Morphology of Alvinellidae. (A) Paralvinella fijiensis, juvenile (SIO-BIC A8627). (B) Alvinella caudata (SIO-BIC A8618), anterior body with filamentous branchiae carrying lamellae as secondary structures. (C) Paralvinella fijiensis (SIO-BIC A8627), head with tentacles retracted into the mouth and the filamentous branchiae carrying smaller filaments as secondary structures. (D) Paralvinella fijiensis, closeup of notopodia with spines and cirri. (E) Paralvinella palmiformis (SIO-BIC A1104, 630×), uncini from posterior thorax with the characteristic single prominent tooth over the rostrum. (F) Paralvinella grasslei (SIO-BIC A1093, 200×), notopodial ramus with a notpodial cirrus and both smooth and serrated capillary chaetae. (G) Alvinella caudata (SIO-BIC A1092, 200×), capillary chaetae from mid thorax with serrated rims. Abbreviations: pe—peristomium, pr—prostomium, te—buccal palps or tentacles. Roman numerals designate segment counts.