On Earth, we know that there are many types of living things that are able to live in difficult environments. The picture to the left shows an example of some of these creatures. These are tubeworms that live near hydrothermal vents on the seafloor. There, a hydrothermal vent, which is like an undersea volcano, heats the seawater making the environment very hot. It is completely dark because light cannot penetrate through that much water and there is a lot of pressure from the weight of the water above.

Yet these tubeworms and other creatures are adapted to survive in this harsh environment. The worms are very large, up to two meters (6.6 feet) long! Can you imagine a worm the size of a basketball player? They live near hydrothermal vents in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The worms make the tubes themselves to protect from predators such as crabs and fish that might like to nibble a tasty tubeworm.

Tubeworms live with bacteria inside them. The bacteria help the tubeworms by making food from the chemicals that come out of the vent and water. The tubeworms help the bacteria get the materials to make the food and provide them with a safe place to live. This relationship is called symbiosis because both creatures benefit from living together.

There are many types of living things that are able to live in difficult environments on Earth. The picture to the left shows an example of some of these creatures. These are tubeworms that live at the bottom of deep oceans near hydrothermal vents, which are like undersea volcanoes. It is not a very welcoming environment in which to live, but the tubeworms manage to survive! The vents heat the seawater, so it's very hot. It is completely dark because light cannot penetrate through so much water. There is also a lot of pressure from the weight of the water above.

Tubeworms live near hydrothermal vents in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Each worm is as tall as a basketball player! They make the tubes themselves to protect from predators such as crabs and fish that might like to nibble a tasty tubeworm.

Tubeworms live with bacteria inside them. The bacteria are helpful, making food from chemicals that come out of the vent and water. The tubeworms help the bacteria get the materials to make the food and provide them with a safe place to live. This relationship is called symbiosis because both creatures benefit from living together.

Some animals can live without light or oxygen. Some can live in very cold places or very hot ones. Some live underwater, while others live on land. All animals are different and need different things to survive.

The animals in this picture are called tubeworms. They live in the deep ocean near undersea volcanoes called hydrothermal vents. Each worm is as tall as a basketball player! They make the tubes themselves to protect from crabs and fish that might like to nibble a tasty tubeworm.

What is it like in the tubeworms home? The vents heat the seawater so it's very hot. It is dark there! There is also a lot of pressure from the weight of the water above. That would be an impossible place for people (or their pets!) to live, but the tubeworms survive just fine!