Chloroflexus

Chloroflexus is a genus of photosynthetic bacteria that thrive in hot, aquatic environments like hot springs and geothermal waters. Unlike plants, they do not produce oxygen during photosynthesis but instead use specific pigments to capture light energy, which they convert into chemical energy. These bacteria are flexible in using various types of organic and inorganic compounds for nutrition and can survive in low-oxygen conditions. Their unique ability to perform photosynthesis without releasing oxygen makes them important for understanding microbial life strategies in extreme environments and contributes to the ecosystem's energy flow near geothermal areas.