Ghostly white giant worms appear to be reproducing under the seafloor where tectonic plates meet
undefined 16, 2024
Giant tube worms have been discovered breeding beneath the seafloor at hydrothermal vents near the Galápagos Islands, challenging previous beliefs that only microbes inhabited these environments. A study published in *Nature Communications* reported excavating these worms from shallow cavities at a depth of 8,250 feet. Researchers found adult worms, including species reaching over 19 inches long, indicating reproduction occurs below the seafloor. The study suggests larvae may enter the ocean crust via cracks and settle at the vents, supporting a previously unknown dispersal mechanism.
Read full article
