[9] These microbes were first discovered in a gold mine in South Africa at a depth of approximately 3 km (2 mi),[6] where they are able to live without oxygen or light.
[16] Based on phylogenetic marker gene survey, Hadesarchaeota might be present in soils in ancient mining areas in East Harz region, Germany.
The freshwater pufferfish (Tetraodon cutcutia), native to India, Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal, was found to have Hadesarchaea present in their gut microbiome.
From metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) data, Hadesarchaea possess genes associated with Wood-Ljungdahl carbon fixation pathway, methanogenesis and alkane metabolism.
[21][22] Hadesarchaeal genomes have also been reported to contain genes that enable them to metabolize sugars and amino acids in a heterotrophic lifestyle, and perform dissimilatory nitrite reduction to ammonium.