Riftia pachyptila without shell

Riftia pachyptila thrive at deep sea vent fields. The large trunk of the animal is filled with an organ termed the trophosome, which is full of bacteria which break down sulfide. The bacteria live in the Riftia in a symbiotic relationship. The Riftia provides shelter and sulfide from the surrounding water for the bacteria, which in turn produce food for the Riftia. This model was created for the Schmidt Ocean Institute Artist-at-Sea program, based on the #MicrobialMysteries expedition. For more information visit https://schmidtocean.org/