An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.) and two reddish translucent shrimp.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.), hydrozoans, copepods, and at least four shrimp in the view.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.) and a shrimp standing at attention.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.), white zoanthids to left, and a large shrimp and a small shrimp.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), zoanthids in upper left, and a scale worm in the center.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), zoanthids in upper left, a scale worm in the center, and a translucent reddish shrimp in the center right. Numerous copepods are flitting about giving a snowfall appearance.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), and numerous copepods.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), and numerous copepods.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), zoanthids in lower left, and numerous copepods.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), numerous copepods, and two amphipods.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), and numerous copepods.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), and numerous copepods.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), and a reddish translucent shrimp.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), copepods, and the head of a reddish translucent shrimp. An amphipod is seen in the right center edge.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), a reddish translucent shrimp, a large white shrimp on the right edge, and white zoanthids.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), and white zoanthids (larger stalked animals). a scale worm and a longer worm can be seen in the zoanthids.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), and a worm in upper left center.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), zoanthids in upper left, and a pink isopod in the center.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.)., hydroids ( small stalked animals), zoanthids in left center, a pink isopod in the center, at least four shrimp, and an amphipod on the tubeworm on bottom right.

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.).

Vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.) found at the foot of the West Florida Escarpment at a cold seep site.

A community of seep tubeworms (Lamellibrachia) was discovered at the rocky foot of the West Florida Escarpment near De Soto Canyon. It appears that long-line monofilament is wrapped about the cluster of tubeworms in the foreground.

Little Hercules as seen from Serios hovering above an aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.).

A community of seep tubeworms (Lamellibrachia) was discovered at the rocky foot of the West Florida Escarpment near De Soto Canyon. These tubeworms thrive on chemical nutrients (e.g., hydrogren sulfide) seeping through the sediments below them. This tubeworm bush hosted anemones, Alvinocaris shrimp, hydroids, white octocorals seen on the tubes, and galatheid crabs and mussels (dead).

An aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.), hydroids ( small stalked animals), zoanthids, hydroids, octocorals, and a large white squat lobster.

A small aggregation of vestimentiferan tubeworms (Lamellibrachia sp.) and squat lobsters using the small thicket for habitat.

Closeup of tubeworm with hydroids on the external tube.

Stained sediment in vicinity of cold seep. A translucent holothurian is in the foreground and small tubeworms protrude upward in the stained area.

Sediment covered rock outcrop.

Cold seep area with stained sediment.

Cold seep area with mussels, a few tube worms, and a large holothurian.

Mussels in a cold seep area.

Cold seep area with snails, squat lobsters, and a small eelpout.

Rock outcrop with numerous squat lobsters in a cold seep area.

Rock outcrop with numerous squat lobsters in a cold seep area. A small eelpout is seen on the left edge of the image.

Large mussels and small squat lobsters in a cold seep area in an area of outcropping rock. Note the white chiton beneath the large mussel in the right center.

Cold seep area with an eelpout, mussels, a holothurian, and squat lobsters. The white material on the right bottom corner is a bacterial mat.

A large red crab (Chaceon sp.) on a rock outcrop in the vicinity of a cold seep.

A white chiton with a number of translucent white zoanthids. A number of worm tubes are also in this cold seep area.

A white bacterial mat in a cold seep area.

A white bacterial mat in a cold seep area.

A white bacterial mat in a cold seep area.

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Description not available.