Assume that a certain prokaryote is shaped like a ball, lives deep under the water on the ocean floor, and consumes dead organisms. What traits could you use to classify it?

That prokaryote is Psychrophile, a coccus and a decomposer.

1) The prokaryote is shaped like a ball or generally has a round shape so it's called a coccus (Cocci in plural). This is one out of three terms, that are used to name bacteria. The other ones are bacillus and spiral. For example, Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that has a round shape but it's formed by more that one ball, that together look like a bunch of grapes.

2) This organism lives deep under the water, so it's named as a psychrophile or cryophile. This means they can live and reproduction at extremely low temperatures (-20ºC), and some places with those temperatures are the polar regions and the deep sea.

3) This prokaryote consumes dead organisms so it's classified as a decomposer.

Decomposers are organisms that can break down dead or decaying organisms. The process is an essential part of the nutrient cycle and is important for recycling the organic matter that occupies space in the biosphere.