A new ecosystem has been discovered in volcanic caves beneath hydrothermal vents at an undersea volcano off Central America.<br /><br />Using an underwater robot, a team of scientists overturned chunks of volcanic crust, discovering cave systems teeming with worms, snails, and chemosynthetic bacteria living in 75 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) water.<br /><br />The discovery adds a new dimension to hydrothermal vents, showing that their habitats exist both above and below the seafloor.<br /><br />Scientists have spent the past 46 years studying hydrothermal vents, but have never looked for animals under these volcanic hot springs.
