5 animals that thrive in extreme heat

Surviving this kind of heat isn’t just about being strong; it’s about being smartly adapted. Some of these creatures produce special proteins that protect their bodies. Others have unique body shapes, behaviours, or internal systems that help them cool off or wait for better conditions. Whatever the strategy, it’s proof that nature is wildly creative.

Here’s a closer look at nature’s most hardcore heat survivors, and what makes them so cool.

Pompeii worm

Found hanging around deep-sea hydrothermal vents, the Pompeii worm doesn’t flinch at boiling water. It lives in areas where the temperature can go up to 105°C; that’s hotter than most saunas!

These worms have bacteria living on their backs, acting as a heat shield. It’s a strange but genius partnership: the bacteria help the worm survive, and in return, they get a cosy home.

Tardigrades (aka water bears)

If there were a “Toughest Creature Alive” contest, tardigrades would probably win. These microscopic animals can survive nearly anything — freezing cold, extreme heat (up to 150°C), radiation, dehydration, and even outer space, according to scientific experiments.

When things get rough, they just shut down and wait it out. Talk about chill.

Found hanging around deep-sea hydrothermal vents, the Pompeii worm doesn’t flinch at boiling water (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Saharan silver ants

Imagine running errands in 60°C heat. That’s just a regular day for the Saharan silver ant.

Thanks to their shiny, heat-reflecting body and super-speedy legs, they can dash across hot desert sand without burning up. They’ve basically evolved a built-in heat-resistant suit.

Heat-loving microbes (Thermophiles)

Okay, they’re not exactly animals, but we have to give props to thermophilic bacteria and archaea. Some of them thrive in boiling geysers or hot springs at over 120°C. One particular species, nicknamed “Strain 121,” survives at autoclave temperatures (121°C). That’s the kind of heat hospitals use to sterilise equipment. Incredible.

Fennec foxes and their desert cousins

While not as heatproof as fennec foxes and their relatives, they have some impressive tricks for desert living. Huge ears help release heat, and their bodies are made to get by with barely any water. They also know when to hide in the shade.

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