Facts About Giant
Tube Worms
A giant tube worm is not the type of worm you're likely to see every day. These worms are much more mysterious than other types of worms and exist deep in the ocean.
Size
The tube worm's most noticeable characteristic is its size. These are not like any worms found on land and can grow more than six meters long.
Location
Tube worms are found in the Pacific Ocean's depths. They are generally located around hydrothermal vents on the ocean's bed, usually several miles below the surface.
Symbiotic Relationship
Tube worms have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. Tube worms do not have digestive tracts and therefore receive nutrients and food from bacteria that live within their bodies. The bacteria in turn are provided with a host that offers a place to live as well as oxygen, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide-all of which come from the tube worm's tentacles.
Plume
The "plume" is a vascular region on the tip of the free tentacle end of the tube worm. The plume exchanges compounds with the surrounding regions. Although the tube worm faces very few predators-due to massive depths at which it exists-the plume can still be withdrawn into the worm's tube if it is threatened.
Hemoglobins
Tube worms are a very distinctive red color, due to the hemoglobins located within the worm. These hemoglobins carry oxygen-which is normally inhibited in the presence of sulfide-without being poisoned by the sulfide, which occurs in the majority of other species.
Reproduction
Tube worms reproduce through a very delicate process. The female tube worms produce and release eggs that are rich in lipids into the water-which then float upwards. The males release sperm on their own, which then swim towards and fertilize the eggs. Larvae eventually swim back down to the ocean bed and attach themselves to the rocks.
Related posts
Facts About Seals for KidsSeals live at both ends of the Earth and travel in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Fur seals, crabeaters, leopard seals, Ross seals, Weddell seals and southern elephant...
Freshwater plants provide nutrition to other aquatic life.A variety of freshwater plants is found all across the world. Freshwater habitats include ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, bogs, swamps and...
Vultures mate for life and share parenting duties.The vulture probably is best known for its habit of scavenging. It is one of the few birds of prey that feeds primarily on dead or weakened animal...
Chickadees live in cold climates during the winter.More than 800 species of wild birds exist in the United States and Canada, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Some birds live in groups...
Berkely Trout Worms contain a special fish-attracting scentThe Berkley fishing company got its start from humble beginnings as the dream of 16-year-old Berkley Bedell, in 1937. The Berkley company...
