Palm worms live in dense colonies around the hydrothermal vents found along the northern section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, off the coast of Canada.

Although the surrounding waters are laden with metals that would be lethal to humans, they do not seem to bother the worms.

They form colonies that resemble impregnable bushes, but they don't seem to repel the gastropods and scale worms seem to be dusted with organic and mineral particles.