Giant Tube Worm
photo from: Dijanna Figueroa, PhD
Description: These giant tube worms are also known as Riftia. They can reach a length of 7ft. 10 in! They can tolerate extremely high levels of hydrogen sulfide. This is a very poisonous gas.
Where they are Found: These tube worms live one mile to several miles deep on the floor of the Pacific ocean next to hydrothermal vents. These vents are cracks in the earth’s surface where heated water rises.
Feeding
: Rifita have no digestive tract, but the bacteria that live inside of them turns the oxygen, sulfide and other materials into organic molecules that they use to feed.
Defense: Hydrothermal vent crabs love to munch off the tubeworms plumes. They can retreat in their protective tube if threatened.
WOW!!
Giant tube worms do not receive any energy from the sun but get their energy from chemicals in the sea water. Not photosynthesis but chemosynthesis.
Past Feature Creatures:
Echinoderms (spiny skinned animals):
Arthropods (hard exoskeleton, joints):
Mollusks (shell, foot, and mantle):
Cnidarians (stinging cells):
Misc Invertebrates:
Fish
:Sharks and Rays:
Mammals:
Misc: