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Tube worms can pull their plumes in far enough so predators can t reach or consume them. The tube worm pulls in it s plume to protect it from shrimp and crabs.

Waikiki Aquarium Spaghetti Worms

They do this by retracting into their tubes.

Tube worm adaptations. Rear body segments are usually easy to replace but a lost head is replaced only rarely. The giant tube worm riftia pachyptila is a very unique species adapted to survive in one of earth s most extreme and inhospitable environments. The sabellida commonly known as the fan worm have behavioral adaptations.

Tube worm any of a number of tube dwelling marine worms belonging to the annelid class polychaeta see polychaete. The plume provides essential nutrients to bacteria living inside the trophosome. Its evolutionary adaptions in the face of such adversity include some not seen in any other organism on earth adaptions thought to be impossible prior to the worm s discovery in 1977.

Look up tube worm in wiktionary the free dictionary. A tube worm is any worm like sessile invertebrate that anchors its tail to an underwater surface and secretes around its body a mineral tube into which it can withdraw its entire body. Other tube dwelling worms include the horseshoe worm phylum phoronida and the beardworm phylum pogonophora.

As clam worms sand worms and tube worms grow they can replace various body parts and even make new worms from broken bits of their own bodies. Chitin is also the main component in the exoskeletons of crabs lobsters and shrimp. They generally adapt to changes in light instensity.

These tube worm hemoglobins are remarkable for carrying oxygen in the presence of sulfide without being inhibited by this molecule as hemoglobins in most other species are. Three adaptations of riftia pachyptila are the ability to retract their plume chemosynthesis and heat resistance. Although the worms have no eyes they can sense movement and vibrations and will retreat into their protective tubes when threatened.

The outer tube of the worm is made from a tough natural substance called chitin. They can even replace the rear body segments if they are bitten or pulled off by a predator.