Pompeii Worm Symbiosis is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

21 years after the first discovery of a hydrothermal vent, scientists discovered the most heat-tolerant species in the world. Alvinella pompejana, or the pompeii worm. They were discovered by french researchers in the 1980's and known as deep-sea polychaetes. They can reach up to 5 inches in length. Their tail end sits in temperatures of 176 degrees Fahrenheit!!!!! scientists are trying to figure out how the pompeii worm can stand that high of heat. Living in a symbiotic relationship, the worms secrete mucous from tiny glands on their backs to feed the bacteria, and in return they are protected by some degree of insulation. The bacteria have also been discovered to be chemolithotrophic, contributing to the ecology of the vent community.