This one’s probably going to give you more than a few nightmares, the Giant Isopod or Bathynomus Giganteus, is the biggest of the nine species of isopods and can grow up to 14.5 inches in length. Just imagine a giant head louse and you wouldn’t be too far off.
Giant Isopods evolved with inherent deep-sea gigantism, a common trait among deep-sea-swelling creatures. They have seven sets of legs with the first being used to bring food to the four sets of jaws. The isopods are a pale lilac in colour.
They are found at the gloomy depths of about 2,000 meters, with temperatures as low as 4 °C. No sunlight penetrates to these depths; the isopods have evolved compound eyes with nearly 4,000 facets with antennas to help them navigate their pitch black surroundings.
The isopods are generalist scavengers feeding on dead whales, fish and squids; though they are also active-predators of slow moving prey like sea cucumbers and sponges. They have been known to survive up to eight weeks without food under famine conditions, but when a food source is found, they can gorge themselves to the point that they find locomotion difficult.
Here's a video of Giant Isopods gorging on a dead fish, if you don't like lots and lots of giant bugs, we advice you to refrain from watching the video.
Cerebrus Constipatus takes no responsibility for mental trauma or duress caused due to the below listed video. Law suits will not be encouraged.
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