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Life in the Dark

Conservation

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How Giant Isopods overcome their many challenges finding food.

It's so sad

Some Deep Sea Isopods have been seen having ingested plastic and other harmful pollutants, and often get caught in nets that are dragged on the bottom of the ocean. Reduced use of single-use plastics and other non-biodegradeable things can help them.

When living in the deep abyss, Giant Isopods face a great challenge finding food to eat, hence, their antannae are highly sensitive to changes in the water, so they are able to locate food and hunt prey.

They also have a very low metabolic rate, so they are able to go longer times without eating. When they are able to get food, they eat large amounts to ensure they will be able to sustain themselves.

Classification

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Giant

Isopods

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Malacostraca

Order: Isopoda

Family: Cirolanidae

Genus: Bathynomus

Species: Bathynomus giganteus

Bathynomus giganteus

Species Overview

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Giant Isopods are a deep-sea crustacean that live on the cold ocean floor. They are scavengers, hunters, and decomposers, eating anything that falls to the seafloor, icluding whale carcasses and dead fish.

They have a hard shell carapace, two large compound eyes, four antennae, and 7 pairs of legs. Their frontmost pair of legs bring food to their mouths, similar to hands. They are closely related to the terrestrial woodlouse, also referred to as a roly poly or pill bug. Giant Isopods are typically a light pink color, but can also be a light purple as well.

Their eyes are very reflective.

Their segmented body provides protection

Images of Giant Isopods

Giant Isopods are often resting to conserve energy.

Habitat

Giant Isopods live in the western Atlantic Ocean, near the equator. Some nearby countries include the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the southern United States.

Deep-sea Gigantism

Hard Shell

Deep-sea gigantism has many causes, such as reducing the surface area to volume ratio, which conserves heat in the cold environment of the deep. Also, larger animals tend to have slower metabolisms to allow their bodies to keep up with their size. It is also theorized to be a way of coping with the increased pressure of the deep ocean.

The shell of the Giant Isopod is very strong, protecting itself from the dangers of the ocean, like predators and falling debris. They can roll into a ball to protect their softer underbellies and swimming legs from being damaged.

Clawed Legs

The main 7 pairs of legs of the Giant Isopod are segmented, and end in a sharp claw to hold onto prey, food, and the ground. Even though the currents at the bottom of the ocean are much weaker than those at the surface, they need to have a stable grip on the ground.

More Adaptations

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Deep-Sea Gigantism

Hard Shell

Claws

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