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Deep-sea hydrothermal vent tube worm — printable fact sheet
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Deep-sea hydrothermal vent tube worm
Riftia pachyptila
The deep-sea hydrothermal vent tube worm, Riftia pachyptila, is a remarkable invertebrate found near hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor at depths exceeding 2,000 meters. These worms can grow up to 2.4 meters in length and lack a digestive system, instead relying on a symbioti…
Did you know?
- Tube worms can survive in total darkness at temperatures near freezing, except for the immediate vicinity of the vent where water can exceed 350°C, thanks to their highly specialized adaptations.
- Deep-sea hydrothermal vent tube worms have no mouth, gut, or anus, relying entirely on internal symbiotic bacteria for nutrition. Their tube-like structures are made of a tough, chitinous material that withstands the extreme conditions of deep-sea vents. They can form colonies with thousands of individuals clustered around vent openings.
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