I am not 100% a believer in lifeforms elsewhere, but I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) BUT...
Why does a planet have to be Earth-like to harbour life.
Lifeforms have been found on Earth that do not need an Earth-like planet to survive. The simplest form of life 'Bacteria' is found in Boiling Sulphur Springs and a whole range of fish and other critters live in permanent pitch dark, freezing, extreme gravity/pressure conditions, and some plants live in Dark methane filled caves.
So what actually constitutes the ether for life to live in? We still tend to think in the 'Earth is flat' and 'The Universe revolves around us' ideology, and that is very self-centred. We tend to only envisage that life must have what we have to survive. Other lifeforms here on Earth prove that to be a phallicy.
Lifeforms DO exist here on Earth in hotter than boiling point and at freezing point, no oxygen, no light etc etc. There's plenty of planets that fit those categories.
If you are talking about 'Intelleigent' life. . . ahhh, I'm sure those fish down in the dark under tons of pressure think they are pretty intelligent.
Just something to consider.
