Final answer:
Archaea are unicellular, prokaryotic organisms with cell walls not made of peptidoglycan and unique lipid membranes. They are extremophiles, thriving in extreme environments like high salt or high-temperature areas. Archaea form their own domain distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Characteristics of Archaea
The organisms referenced in the question are Archaea, which are prokaryotic and unicellular. Archaea's cell walls are composed of substances such as pseudo peptidoglycan, which is different from the peptidoglycan found in bacterial cell walls. Unlike bacteria, Archaea have a unique lipid makeup in their cell membranes, including phytanyl units linked to glycerol, and some possess lipid monolayers instead of the conventional bilayer structure.
Archaea are known for their ability to thrive in extreme environments, earning them the designation of extremophiles. These environments can range from highly saline areas to boiling springs and even the acidic environments of a cow's stomach. Notably, some Archaea are methanogens, which produce methane, and others like halophiles thrive in high salt concentrations and are capable of performing photosynthesis with bacteriorhodopsin.
Given their distinctive evolutionary history, Archaea are placed in their domain, separate from bacteria and eukaryotes. They possess characteristics that allow them to not just survive, but flourish in conditions that would be inhospitable to other forms of life.