Giant amphipods, isopods, seapigs and scaleworms are some of the lower creatures who have enjoyed an evolutionary field day in the isolated frigid waters of Antarctica. Newly released images from the British Antarctic Survey reveal many ginormous species of invertebrates who have been able to grow into grotesquely large versions of their tropical brethren thanks to a high concentration of oxygen dissolved in the cold water and the lack of vertebrate predators that usually dominate the temperate to tropical seas. Many of us may think of polar seas as being rather barren ecosystems that is home to very few but common species, however the rich seasonal plankton blooms feed a huge diversity of bizarre marine life that contains such biodiversity that every new survey seems to turn up more and more unique ice water animals. Perhaps advanced aquarists of the future will have the opportunity to grow and propagate these fascinatingly bizarre creatures but for now, enjoy the additional images after the break.
