A living coatSourced
The fuzz on this deep-sea worm is a colony of bacteria
The Pompeii worm, Alvinella pompejana, lives near deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Its hairy-looking back is covered by colonies of bacteria. Secretions from the worm help feed its companions, forming a symbiotic relationship. The fuzzy surface is itself inhabited by other organisms.
A single animal carries a tiny community on its back.
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Alvinella pompejana · Wikimedia contributors
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Reviewed: 2026-10-05