Marine WormsJustin Adair

Any worm who lives in a marine environment

is considered as marine worm. Marine worms have special tentacles used for

taking in oxygen and letting out carbon dioxide. They also use their tentacles for reproduction.

Tube WormsLive over a mile deep, on the pacific ocean floor.Near hydrothermal vents.3metres (8Feet long).White tube home called Chiton.No eyes, mouth or stomach.Rely on symbiotic relations

with the bacteria that live within

them.

The billions of bacteria turn the chemicals from

hydrothermal vents into food for the worm.Chemosynthesis.In early stages they have a mouth/stomach for the bacteria

to enter.They lose these features later.Tube worms may act as food for other creatures

(fish/crabs may eat the red plume)

Tube Worm ReproductionFemales release lipid-rich eggs.They start to float upward in the water.Males release sperm bundles that swim and meet the eggs.The eggs hatch.Larvae swim down and attach themselves to rock.They may try to eat one another.Grow to full maturity in less then 2 years.Lamellibrachia luymesi can live to be 250 years old.

Bibliographyhttp://www.ceoe.udel.edu/deepsea/level2/creature/tube.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_worms