Extreme organisms

Extreme Organism: Pompeii worm/Alvinella pompejana

These are a species of deep sea polychaete worms.These extremophiles are found near the hydrothermal vents of the pacific ocean.They were discovered around 1980s at the galapagos islands by the french biologist. They reach up to 5 inches in length and are gray with red tentacle like gills on their heads. The most fascinating, is that their tail end is often resting in temperatures as high as 176 °F. That is pretty amazing..They have a feather shaped head and the structures on it are gills.. Scientist think the bacteria on their back allow them to survive these extremities. They may also consist of proteins called eurythermal enzymes that allow them to sustain such high temperatures.
 
sources: Google Images, Wikipedia, http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/deepsea/level-2/creature/worm.html