What is Lamellibrachia?
{{Taxobox | name = ''Lamellibrachia'' | image = Lamellibrachia luymesi1.png | image_width = 230px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Annelida]] | classis = [[Polychaeta]] | ordo = Sabellidae | familia = [[Siboglinidae]] | genus = ''Lamellibrachia'' }} [[File:Lamellibrachia luymesi.png|thumb|right|220px|[[Symbiotic]] tubeworm ''Lamellibrachia luymesi'' from a cold seep at 550 metres in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. In the sediments around the base are orange [[bacterial mat]]s of the sulphide-oxidizing bacteria ''Beggiatoa''. There are empty shells of [[clam]]s and [[snail]]s, which are also common in the seeps.<ref name=Boetius>Boetius A. 2005. Microfauna–Macrofauna interaction in the seafloor: lessons from the tubeworm. ''PLoS Biology'' '''3'''(3): e102. [[doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030102]]</ref>]] '''''Lamellibrachia''''' is a [[genus (biology)|genus]] of ''cold seep tube worms''. These are related to [[giant tube worm]]s. They live on the floor of the [[ocean]]s, near [[cold seep]]s. There [[crude oil]] and [[methane]] leak out of the ocean floor. The worm forms a [[symbiosis]] with certain [[bacteria]] which can [[oxidation|oxidise]] [[sulphide]]s. The worm provides the bacteria with [[hydrogen sulphide]] and [[oxygen]]. It does this by taking them up from the environment and binding them to a [[haemoglobin]] molecule. In return, the bacteria feed the worm. The worms can grow to a length of about 3 metres. Together, they form a 'biogenic [[habitat]]' by creating groups of hundreds or thousands of individuals. Living in these aggregations are over a hundred different [[species]] of organism, many of which are found only at these seeps. Cold seeps and [[hydrothermal vent]]s are the only known communities that do not rely on [[photosynthesis]] for food and energy production. Unlike hydrothermal vents, which are short-lived environments, cold seeps leak oil and gas slowly. Probably because of the cooler temperatures and stability, many cold seep organisms are much longer-lived than those inhabiting hydrothermal