Riftia pachyptila tube worms

Riftia pachyptila tube worms

Riftia pachyptila tube worms

Riftia pachyptila tube worms

Large fields of mostly dead clams surrounded the vent field. Living clams were also seen among the masses of empty shells.

Carpets of small (inch-long) anemones covered rock faces adjacent to the active venting in the Tempus Fugit vent field. Is the large covered shell mussel or clam?

Closeup of dead giant clams Calytogena magnifica at Tempus Fugit vent field.

Extensive beds of the giant clam Calyptogena magnifica were found in in abundance at Tempus Fugit vent field. A grenadier cruises over the clam bed. A barnacle covered rock is in lower left.

Large assemblage of Riftia pachyptila.

Small white anemones covering pillow lava as large pycnogonid crab forages

Small white anemones covering rock outcrops. Shrimp and crab can be seen as well.

Large assemblage of Riftia pachyptila with white anemones and white squat lobsters. Smoky appearance of water is fraom active vents and debris in water possibly from chemical precipitation of constituents of vent water upon cooling.

Squat lobsters and two large Riftia pachyptila tube worms seen behind curtain of shimmering hydrothermal waters.

Large assemblage of Riftia pachyptila with small white anemones and white brachyuran crabs.

Bed of live and dead giant clams in vicinity of hydrothermal venting.

Large white feather duster worm.

Large white feather duster worm.

Aggregation of large white feather duster worms. What appears to be a small pinkish alcyonacean coral is next to large tube in upper right quadrant.

Small white tube worms with siblonogid tube worms.

Polychaete diversity; a scale worm clings to rock also inhabited by smaller feather duster worms.

Close-up of the 'plume' extending out of a Riftia pachyptila hard tube. The bright red coloring is due to complex hemoglobin within the plume used to transport oxygen through the worm's respiratory system. Note also the similar structure on the siboglinid tube worm just above the riftia tube worm.

Riftia pachyptila tube worm with plume extended, smaller siblonogid tube worm above, limpets, and vent shrimp.

Closeup of siblonogid tube worm.

Riftia tube worm with siboglinid tube worms, smaller polychaete feather duster worm tubes, smaller white tube worms, white limpets, and shrimp at a vent site.

Clambed with many dead clams amongst pillow lavas. White tube worms and small white anemones are also seen.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

Closeup of a Riftia tube worm's red gas exchange or 'plume' extending from its tube. The blurring to the left and right is caused by the vent fluids actively mixing with the seawater.

One of the largest concentrations of Riftia observed, with anemones and mussels colonizing in close proximity.

A thick pocket of young mussels inhabiting a cleft in the seafloor at the Tempus Fugit vent site.

A tight aggregation of Riftia tube worms blurred by hydrothermal fluids emanating from cracks in the rock. Several crabs and shrimp can be seen clinging to the tube structures.

Little Herc over an assemblage of Riftia tube worms.

Riftia tube worms at an active venting site.

Even here, at the edge of creation, human trash finds its way to the seafloor.

Two species of tube worms seen through shimmering hot venting water

A small prickly sponge?

These small shells were seen throughout most of the area often times collecting in the bottom of holes and depressions.

A fairly large tubeworm with a white gastropod shell in the left foreground.

A polychaete tubeworm forest almost looking like it was planted in neat rows.

Small tubeworms protruding from a sandy bottom.

Tubeworms with perhaps a small batfish in the upper right with tail towards camera. Shimmer in image might indicate proximity to venting.

Tube worms with shrimp? on rock outcrop.

A bluish sponge and small tube worms on a sediment covered black rock outcrop.

A xenophyophore, a large single-celled organism.