Riftia pachyptila is a marine invertebrate belonging to the phylum Annelida, commonly known as giant tube worms or giant beardworms. Found in the deep sea, particularly around hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean, they thrive in temperatures ranging from 2 to 30 degrees Celsius and can tolerate high levels of hydrogen sulfide. These worms can grow up to 3 meters long and 4 cm in diameter.
Riftia pachyptila is sessile and often clusters around hydrothermal vents on the East Pacific Rise and the Galapagos Rift, exhibiting the fastest growth rate of any marine invertebrate. They can reach sexual maturity and grow nearly 1.5 meters in less than two years. In the Rose Garden site, different species coexist by utilizing specific microhabitats; Riftia prefers high water flow and sulfide concentrations, while other species have varied requirements.
