Archaebacteria

Archaebacteria are special bacteria because they live in some of the most harsh habitats on Earth. On the basis of the extreme conditions they tolerate, they are described as:

• halophiles — living in extremely salty areas
• thermoacidophiles — living in hot springs
• methanogens — living in marshy areas

Archaebacteria differ from all other bacteria in having a different cell wall structure, and it is precisely this feature that is responsible for their ability to survive in such extreme conditions. …