A cold seep community of tube worms, squat lobster, white shrimp, and mussel shells

A cold seep community of tube worms, squat lobster, white shrimp, and mussel shells. The tubeworms mine for sulfide in the carbonate substrate with their roots. The sulfide is metabolized by bacteria living in the tubeworms, and the energy produced sustains both organisms. It is a classic symbiotic relationship.

Photo Category: Ocean exploration
Photo Location: Gulf of Mexico