The sea worm plays a small but important role in the series, serving as proof of the Valar's favor. Its presence builds off the Numenórean storyline, which follows a battle for power.

Other sea worms can live surrounded by methane, one of the Earth’s most potent greenhouse gasses. Now, scientists have discovered a new species of deep-sea worm.

A robotic explorer filmed the deep-sea worm as part of Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition of the Chile Margin Kelli Bender is the Pets Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2013 ...