Head to head
Pompeii Worm vs Giant Tube Worm
Both worms depend on chemosynthetic bacteria at hydrothermal vents, but they keep their bacterial partners in very different places and to very different extremes.
| Pompeii Worm | Giant Tube Worm | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Alvinella pompejana | Riftia pachyptila |
| Digestive system | Has a functioning digestive system | No mouth, gut, or anus at all as an adult |
| Where bacteria live | In a fleece-like coating on its back | Inside an internal organ called the trophosome |
| Temperature tolerance | Tail end can tolerate water over 80°C | Not documented as tolerating comparable direct heat |
| Growth rate | Not well documented | Extremely fast, over 30 cm per year |
| Notable structure | A fleece-like bacterial coating | A bright red plume for gathering chemicals |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
Pompeii Worm vs Giant Tube Worm: common questions
Which one has no digestive system at all, the Pompeii worm or the giant tube worm?
The giant tube worm is the one with no digestive system as an adult, lacking a mouth, gut, and anus entirely, while the Pompeii worm retains a functioning digestive system alongside its external bacterial coating.
Which one tolerates more extreme heat?
The Pompeii worm is documented tolerating more extreme direct heat, with its tail end able to sit in water exceeding 80 degrees Celsius, one of the widest temperature tolerances known in any animal.
Where does each animal's bacteria actually live?
The Pompeii worm carries its bacteria in a fleece-like coating on its own back, while the giant tube worm houses its bacteria inside an internal organ called the trophosome, deep within its own body.