Denizens of the Dragon Vent – in pictures

A Yeti crab found living at the Dragon Vent in the south-west Indian Ocean Photograph: David Shale

The newly discovered yeti crab, photographed from above. Two species of yeti crab live at deep-sea vents in the eastern Pacific, but they have longer, more hairy arms Photograph: David Shale

The crab's underside is covered with bristles Photograph: JC067

Close-up of the yeti crab's underside Photograph: David Shale

The mouthparts of a sea cucumber. The creatures have previously only been seen at deep sea vents in the eastern Pacific Photograph: David Shale

A scaly foot sea snail. The scales are covered with layers of pure pyrite and iron sulphide Photograph: David Shale

A vent shrimp, Rimicaris Photograph: David Shale

Stalked barnacles, one of the creatures living in the mineral-rich, superheated waters around the Dragon Vent Photograph: David Shale