Trophosome in vestimentifera Ridgeia piscesae Jones, 1985 (Annelida, Siboglinidae) develops from cells of the coelomic lining

The structure of early juvenile specimens of vestimentifera Ridgeia piscesae (Annelida, Siboglinidae) was studied. As adults, vestimentiphers are deprived of the intestine and have a trophosome, in which cells chemoautotrophic bacteria are living. In early juvenile individuals of 280-300 microns in size, it was found that trophosome develops from cells of the coelomic lining on the surface of the intestine and on the side walls of the body. This structure of the rudiment of the trofosome suggests that the bacteria are first captured by the cell wall of the body and then transferred to the cell on the surface of the intestine.