It dwells within tubes in waters surrounding hydrothermal vents, in close proximity to super-heated fluids reaching over 300 °C (572 °F).

Paralvinella sulfincola colonizes smoker chimneys found near deep sea ridges in aggregations or singly upon vents.

It utilizes its branchial filaments to brush across the surface of the chimney, and sometimes extends the upper parts of its body to sweep out across the tube entrance.

In this respect, it seems that size matters, as bigger worms are able to maintain a larger area than their smaller conspecifics.

[3] Paralvinella sulfincola are mostly found on the chimneys that form near the Juan de Fuca Ridge on the Northwestern Pacific.

In the first phase, hot seawater that is intensely saturated with calcium sulfate emerges from the seafloor and deposits anhydrite minerals into a porous, chimney-like structure.

It is thought that the elemental sulfur found in the worms’ tube mucus react with the sulfides present to form this marcasite material.