imported>Elfabso: he didn't get into that cave in 1986, it was later http://www.mexicancaves.org/nl/16.pdf

2025-10-26T18:27:36Z

he didn't get into that cave in 1986, it was later http://www.mexicancaves.org/nl/16.pdf

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{{Short description|Microbial mat often found in caves}}
[[Image:Snottite.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Snottites in Cueva de Villa Luz in Southern Mexico]]

'''Snottite''', also '''snoticle''', is a [[microbial mat]] of [[cell (biology)|single-celled]] [[extremophile|extremophilic]] [[bacteria]] which hang from the walls and ceilings of [[cave]]s and are similar to small [[stalactite]]s, but have the consistency of [[nasal mucus]]. In the [[Frasassi Caves]] in Italy, over 70% of cells in Snottite have been identified as ''[[Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans]]'', with smaller populations including an [[archaeon]] in the uncultivated 'G-plasma' clade of [[Thermoplasmatales]] (>15%) and a bacterium in the [[Acidimicrobiaceae]] family (>5%).<ref>{{cite journal|title=Community genomic analysis of an extremely acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing biofilm | pmid=21716305 | doi=10.1038/ismej.2011.75 | volume=6 | pmc=3246232 | year=2012 | journal=ISME J | pages=158–70 | last1 = Jones | first1 = DS | last2 = Albrecht | first2 = HL | last3 = Dawson | first3 = KS | last4 = Schaperdoth | first4 = I | last5 = Freeman | first5 = KH | last6 = Pi | first6 = Y | last7 = Pearson | first7 = A | last8 = Macalady | first8 = JL| issue=1 }}</ref>

The bacteria derive their energy from [[chemosynthesis]] of volcanic [[sulfur]] compounds including [[hydrogen sulfide|H<sub>2</sub>S]] and warm-water solution dripping down from above, producing [[sulfuric acid]]. Because of this, their waste products are highly acidic (approaching pH=0), with similar properties to [[battery acid]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qyxfb|title=BBC Two - Wonders of the Solar System, Original Series|work=[[BBC Online]]|date=4 Apr 2010}}</ref> Researchers at the University of Texas have suggested that this sulfuric acid may be a more significant [[sulfuric acid cave|cause of cave formation]] than the usual explanation offered of the [[carbonic acid]] formed from [[carbon dioxide]] dissolved in water.<ref>Derasa, [https://wileyearthpages.wordpress.com/2004/05/01/caves-and-snoticles/ "Caves and snoticles"], ''Earth-pages'', Wiley-Blackwell, 1 May 2004.</ref>

Snottites were brought to attention by researchers [[Diana Northup]] and [[Penelope Boston|Penny Boston]] studying them (and other organisms) in a toxic [[sulfur]] cave called [[Cueva de Villa Luz]] (''Cave of the Lighted House''), in [[Tabasco]], [[Mexico]]. Snottites were first discovered in this cave by Jim Pisarowicz who also coined the term.<ref>Michael Ray Taylor, ''Dark Life: Martian Nanobacteria, Rock-eating Cave Bugs, and Other Extreme Organisms of Inner Earth and Outer Space'', pp. 56–57, Simon and Schuster, 1999 {{ISBN|0684841916}}.</ref>

The BBC series ''[[Wonders of the Solar System]]'' saw [[Brian Cox (physicist)|Professor Brian Cox]] examining snottites and positing that if there is [[life on Mars (planet)|life on Mars]], it may be similarly primitive and hidden beneath the surface of the [[Mars|Red Planet]].

==See also==
* [[Archaea]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Additional sources ==
Hose L. D., Pisarowicz J. A. (1999) [https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/1259/ "Cueva de Villa Luz, Tabasco, Mexico: reconnaissance study of an active sulfur spring cave and ecosystem"]. ''J Cave Karst Studies''; 61:13–21

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}

*[http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/cave_slime.html Cave slime] at NASA
*[http://www.caveslime.org/ The Subsurface Life in Mineral Environments (SLIME) Team]

{{Extremophile}}

[[Category:Cave organisms]]
[[Category:Speleothems]]
[[Category:Sulphophiles]]

Snottite - Revision history

imported>Elfabso: he didn't get into that cave in 1986, it was later http://www.mexicancaves.org/nl/16.pdf