Riftia pachyptila

Description

Riftia grow in clusters near deep sea hydrothermal vents. They are adapted to tolerate and thrive in extreme conditions of hydrogen sulfide, cold temperatures, and variable oxygen. Their bright red bodies are rich in haemoglobin, and extract sulfide and oxygen from the surrounding water. They can only feed using symbiotic bacteria which which live inside them - the bacteria convert hydrogen sulfide and oxygen into carbon for their host. Riftia are the fastest growing marine invertebrates in the world. This model was created for the Schmidt Ocean Institute Artist-at-Sea program, based on the #MicrobialMysteries expedition. For more information visit https://schmidtocean.org/