Vesicomyid and lucinid clams and tubeworms from Gulf of Mexico petroleum seeps, all of which bear symbiotic sulfide-oxidizing bacteria, have much lower catalase activities than shallow-water species lacking symbionts. A petroleum seep mussel bearing methane-oxidizing bacteria is unusual in having catalase activities as high as shallow-water bivalves. Unlike sulfide-dependent meiofauna from shallow-water marine sands, catalase from all petroleum seep species was inhibited by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole.