Facts: The Giant Isopod

Giant isopods are deep sea crustaceans in the genus Bathanomus. The group includes about 20 species, including what is thought to be the largest isopod in the world, Bathanomus giganteus. They are abundant in the cold, deep waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans where the water pressure is intense. With the largest species reaching over 14 in long, giant isopods exhibit deep sea gigantism. This is likely caused by colder temperatures and longer lifespans. This makes them significantly larger than their smaller isopod relatives. They prefer muddy bottoms at depths between 560 to 7000 ft deep. They have large reflective eyes and 14 legs. Their segmented body has two pairs of antennae. The abdomen has limbs called pleopods that are used for swimming and respiration. Giant isopods are important deep sea scavengers. They feed on dead creatures like whales that have fallen to the seafloor, but they may also feed on slow moving or sessile animals. Their mouthparts are highly adapted to cut and ingest large chunks of food. A large and flexible gut maximizes food ingestion. They can rapidly detect dead animals by chemoreception. They can go a long time without food. Like their tiny relatives, giant isopods can roll into a ball when threatened. Their hard skeleton protects them from predators. Female isopods lay eggs. They develop a special pouch to hold the eggs and the newly hatched babies. The young emerge from the pouch as miniature adults. Sometimes giant isopods get caught in deep water trawling nets. They are commonly caught in baited traps. Some are kept in aquariums. In some parts of Asia, giant isopods are considered a delicacy. They are said to taste like lobster. For more marine facts, click the SUBSCRIBE button!!