GIANT TUBE WORMS

Tube Worm colony surrounding Hydrothermal Vent

Riftia pachyptila

The Giant Tube Worm is a species of deep sea Annelids. They dwell in large colonies near Hydrothermal vents where they can catch bits of nutrients on their feather-like plumes. They use the bacteria filled plumes to process the nutrients into energy. Certain crabs and fish try to catch the Worm as to eat its plumes.

They were discovered in 1977 in the Galapagos islands by a team of scientists led by Jack Corliss while studying hydrothermal vents.