<P> An extremophile ( from Latin extremus meaning `` extreme '' and Greek philiā ( φιλία ) meaning `` love '' ) is an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth . In contrast , organisms that live in more moderate environments may be termed mesophiles or neutrophiles . </P>
organisms that are tolerant to high levels of salt high temperatures or high pressures are called
extremophile