Deep-Sea Creature Album (Giant Tube Worms)

PHOTOGRAPH BY EMORY KRISTOF, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Giant Tube Worms

Crushing pressure, freezing temperatures, and zero sunlight isn't enough of a challenge for giant tube worms. They've adapted to thrive at the edge of hydrothermal vents, which spew superheated water saturated with toxic chemicals. This colony was photographed 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) below the ocean's surface on the East Pacific Rise near the Galápagos Islands.