Dwelling inside organic tubes in active chimney walls. Temperature ranging from 10-50°C. Seldom observed in situ. Feeding on free bacteria, associated with filamentous bacteria epibiosis. Gut functional; retractile buccal tentacles; gonochoric, sexual dimorphism.

East Pacific Rise: 21°N to 17°S (not observed in Guaymas Basin and Galapagos Spreading Center). : ALAYSE-DANET A.M., DESBRUYÈRES D. & F. GAILL (1987) Symbiosis 4: 51-62.

Four pairs of lamellate gills; two transformed chaetigerous segments bearing stout spines; body in two parts, the posterior one with enlarged notopods bearing distal digitations; bacterial epibiosis.

Up to 140 mm.

Holotype; Paratype for Alvinella caudata Desbruy?res & Laubier, 1986
Catalog Number: USNM 59829
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Preparation: Alcohol (Ethanol)
Collector(s): D. Desbruy?res
Locality: Near Hydrothermales Vents, Mexico, North Pacific Ocean
Depth (m): 2593 to 2593
Vessel: Alvin DSR/V

Depth range based on 25 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 25 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 2493.5 - 2649
  Temperature range (°C): 1.823 - 2.075
  Nitrate (umol/L): 36.252 - 41.112
  Salinity (PPS): 34.663 - 34.674
  Oxygen (ml/l): 2.461 - 3.489
  Phosphate (umol/l): 2.500 - 2.812
  Silicate (umol/l): 127.119 - 161.139

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 2493.5 - 2649

Temperature range (°C): 1.823 - 2.075

Nitrate (umol/L): 36.252 - 41.112

Salinity (PPS): 34.663 - 34.674

Oxygen (ml/l): 2.461 - 3.489

Phosphate (umol/l): 2.500 - 2.812

Silicate (umol/l): 127.119 - 161.139
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Genomic DNA is available from 1 specimen with morphological vouchers housed at Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo