This image may not be used to state or imply NOAA endorsement of any company or product Tube worms Âon a hydrothermal vent. These animals inhabit a tu

---

This image may not be used to state or imply NOAA endorsement of any company or product Tube worms Âon a hydrothermal vent. These animals inhabit a tube (white), from which they extend feathery red plumes. The plumes take in chemicals and release waste. The chemicals are passed to colonies of symbiotic bacteria that live inside the worm, which convert the chemicals into nutrients on which the worm feeds. The worms are usually found near hydrothermal vents (black smokers), and are extremely resistant to the heat associated with the vents.

---

Size: 2395px × 3689px
Photo credit: © NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM/NOAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomy, animal, annelid, biological, biology, black, body, deep, deep-sea, fauna, heat, hot, human, hydrothermal, invertebrate, invertebrates, lip, lips, marine, mouth, nature, oceanic, smoker, symbiosis, symbiotic, tube, underwater, vent, wildlife, woman, worm, worms, zoological, zoology