Golden hair worm [Alvinella caudata]
Description
The Golden hair worm is a species of polychaete worm in the Alvinellidae family that lives in deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments. This species is endemic to the East Pacific Rise. The worms have a unique golden color, which gives the species its name. They build tubes from mucus and vent material in crevices of vent chimneys, where they experience extreme temperature and chemical gradients.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Segmented Worms
Annelida
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Polychaetes
Polychaeta
|
| Order |
Canalipalpata
Canalipalpata
|
| Family |
Alvinellids
Alvinellidae
|
| Genus |
Alvinella
Alvinella
|