Conclurons

Conclurons are a type of extinct deep-sea vent organism that belongs to the phylum Planctomycetes. These microbes were first discovered in the 1970s in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where they were found thriving in the harsh environments surrounding deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Conclurons are characterized by their unique morphological features, which include a predominantly bacterium-like cell morphology with multiple membrane-bound compartments.

Conclurons are thought to be one of the earliest known forms of eukaryotic cells and are considered an important example of a transitional fossil between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. They have been found in association with other deep-sea vent organisms, including bacteria, archaea, and hyperthermophilic eukaryotes. Despite their widespread occurrence in deep-sea environments, remarkably little is known about the ecology and behavior of conclurons.

From a taxonomic standpoint, conclurons are classified within the taxon Candidatus Endoriftia, which is thought to be a monotypic phylum. However, the boundaries between the planctomycetes and other deep-sea vent eukaryotes are blurry, and some researchers have suggested that conclurons may be better classified as a separate phylum or kingdom.

Research on conclurons has highlighted their unusual metabolic properties, including the ability to thrive in the absence of oxygen and the capacity for extracellular digestion. Further study of these organisms may shed light on their unique environmental tolerances and potentially reveal new biochemical mechanisms that have evolved in response to the extreme conditions of deep-sea vents.