The deep sea worm Paralvinella hessleri reworks the toxin into a less hazardous and colorful material that it uses for protection. Meet Paralvinella hassleriP. hessleri is a deep sea worm that lives in the western Pacific Ocean. The hydrothermal vents P. hessleri calls home form when seawater meets magma within the Earth, producing oceanic hot springs and toxic gasses over 8,000-feet-deep. What do Rembrant and a deep sea worm have in common? While they may live in one of Earth’s most inhospitable zones, P. hessleri has certainly risen to the evolutionary challenge.