Creatures of the 'Lost World': Found at Antarctic Vents

These yeti crabs seem to cultivate "gardens" of bacteria on their chests, which are covered with hairy tendrils. These bacterial mats almost certainly provides the crabs with sustenance. (NERC ChEsSo Consortium)

Scientists doing their first exploring of deep-sea vents in the Antarctic found the crabs -- along with a whole world populated by new species of anemones and predatory sea stars.   (NERC ChEsSo Consortium)

In the dayless world of deep-sea vents, energy comes not from the sun but from the hydrothermal energy generated in the oceanic crust -- and vents through so called "black smokers" like this one. (NERC ChEsSo Consortium)

A view of South Georgia island, considered one of the more "temperate" islands and a great spot to see Emperor and King penguins. (Alex Rogers)

Above the freezing seas, a King Penguin catches rays on South Georgia island. (Alex Rogers)

A humpback whale skims just below the surface of the waves.  (Alex Rogers)

Dives with a remotely operated vehicle designed to brave the icy waters were conducted with the help of the crews of RRS James Cook and RRS James Clark Ross. (Alex Rogers)

Named Isis, the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) allowed exploration of the East Scotia Ridge deep beneath the Southern Ocean -- where hydrothermal vents including "black smokers" reach temperatures of up to 382 degrees Celsius. (Alex Rogers)

A control room where scientists monitor the view from the ROV, deep beneath the waves.  (Alex Rogers)

Meanwhile on the ocean surface, Minke whales cavort and play in the cold water. (Alex Rogers)

Back beneath the waves, a previously undescribed seastar with seven arms -- a predator that inhabits the warm waters near the vent -- crawls across fields of stalked barnacles. (NERC ChEsSo Consortium)

Esoteric anemone such as these Vulcanolepas and Kiwa also dwell in the cold dark ocean. (NERC ChEsSo Consortium)