Tevnia jerichonana and Riftia pachyptila are two species of tube worms which, not only do not have a mouth, but do not have a digestive tract at all. Instead the species have several billion chemotrophic bacteria living in their gut. The worms expel plumes dyed red with hemoglobin and use them to take sulfur compounds and other nutrients into the body cavity. The hemoglobin combines with hydrogen sulfide and is then taken up by the bacteria and used to produce organic nutrients which are supplied directly to the worm (“Extremes of Eel City” 2005). Alvinella pompejana, the Pompeii worm has a similar symbiotic relationship except these worms actually possess a digestive track. Instead of living in the worm’s body cavity, microbes live directly on the Pompeii worm’s plume; which is also dyed red from hemoglobin. The hemoglobin/hydrogen sulfide combination works in the same way except the worm then properly consumes the nutrients created by its bacteria (Cottrell et. al
Tevnia jerichonana and Riftia pachyptila are two species of tube worms which, not only do not have a mouth, but do not have a digestive tract at all. Instead the species have several billion chemotrophic bacteria living in their gut. The worms expel plumes dyed red with hemoglobin and use them to take sulfur compounds and other nutrients into the body cavity. The hemoglobin combines with hydrogen sulfide and is then taken up by the bacteria and used to produce organic nutrients which are supplied directly to the worm (“Extremes of Eel City” 2005). Alvinella pompejana, the Pompeii worm has a similar symbiotic relationship except these worms actually possess a digestive track. Instead of living in the worm’s body cavity, microbes live directly on the Pompeii worm’s plume; which is also dyed red from hemoglobin. The hemoglobin/hydrogen sulfide combination works in the same way except the worm then properly consumes the nutrients created by its bacteria (Cottrell et. al