Organisms which require extreme physico-chemical conditions for their optimum growth
and proliferation. Extremophilic microorganisms are e.g.
thermophiles or psychrophiles,
halophiles, alkalophiles or acidophiles, osmophiles and barophiles, based on their growth at
extremes of temperature,
salt concentration, pH,
osmolarity or pressure, respectively.
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992))
on page 153