Giant Tubeworm

ocean · deep sea · bizarre creatures · no mouth

Lives in extreme darkness. Giant tubeworms make their home near hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor, more than a mile down where sunlight never reaches. The water around them is freezing cold and full of chemicals that would be deadly to most creatures.

Powered by chemicals, not sunlight. Instead of eating food or relying on photosynthesis like plants, giant tubeworms partner with bacteria living inside their bodies. These bacteria use chemicals from the vent water to make energy, which the tubeworm shares. It's like having a power plant built right into your body.

Absolutely massive worm. A giant tubeworm can grow up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall, making it one of the biggest worms on Earth. They are so enormous that scientists were shocked when they first discovered them.

No mouth or stomach. Giant tubeworms have no mouth, no digestive system, and no anus. They rely completely on their bacterial partners to provide all their nutrients, so they never need to eat food the way you do.

Red feathery plume. At the top of each tubeworm's body is a beautiful bright red crown of feathery tentacles that looks like a fancy feather duster. These tentacles are actually gills that help absorb water and chemicals from the vent.