Shocking giant isopod rises from the abyss

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A giant isopod was recently discovered attached to remote undersea survey sub and this shocking sea creature is taking the internet by storm! Definitely one to cause some nightmares for the squeamish, this isopod is a hulking 2 1/2 feet long. These creatures are typically found in deep, cooler waters around 1,200 feet below the surface and according to Popular Science, are considered a delicacy in Taiwan. Most of these larger creatures typically reach a foot long, so this “monster” definitely adds to the lore of the deep. More details, pics and video after the break.

The isopod was shared with Reddit users from Gwynzer who had this to say along with sharing the two pictures in this article:

I work for a Sub-sea Survey Company, recently this beast came up attached to one of our ROVs. It measures a wee bit over 2.5 feet head to tail, and we expect it latched onto the ROV at roughly 8500ft depth. Unfortunately, the e-mail that these pictures were attached to came from a contractor, and the ship he was operating from (and therefore location) is unknown, so I can’t tell you what part of the Earth this beast was living.
What is this, Reddit? Is it edible?

PopSci included this great video on giant isopods. Granted its not this beast but will give a good insight into their habitat and behavior.

[via Reddit, PopSci]


 



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  • Jim walter

    INCREDIBLE!

  • Jim walter

    INCREDIBLE!

  • nick

    RELEASE THE KRAKEN!!!!

  • nick

    RELEASE THE KRAKEN!!!!

  • Ali Atapour

    “If he bleeds…we can kill it…”

    “You’re one ugly…mother****.”

    “I’m scared Poncho.”
    ” Bullsh*t. You ain’t afraid of no man. There’s something out there waiting for us, and it ain’t no man. We’re all gonna die. ”

    “Come on… Come on! Do it! Do it! Come on. Come on! Kill me! I’m here! Kill me! I’m here! Kill me! Come on! Kill me! I’m here! Come on! Do it now! Kill me! “

  • Ali Atapour

    “If he bleeds…we can kill it…”

    “You’re one ugly…mother****.”

    “I’m scared Poncho.”
    ” Bullsh*t. You ain’t afraid of no man. There’s something out there waiting for us, and it ain’t no man. We’re all gonna die. ”

    “Come on… Come on! Do it! Do it! Come on. Come on! Kill me! I’m here! Kill me! I’m here! Kill me! Come on! Kill me! I’m here! Come on! Do it now! Kill me! “

  • Cayman

    “considered a delicacy in Taiwan”

    This cracks me up.

  • Cayman

    “considered a delicacy in Taiwan”

    This cracks me up.

  • Gator_doc

    I caught one of about 2 feet long off the dry tortugas while on a research vessel. I had it until 2 years ago before I moved to the NW. My professor at the time said that it was the largest specimen he had ever seen. I knew I should have kept it…

  • Gator_doc

    I caught one of about 2 feet long off the dry tortugas while on a research vessel. I had it until 2 years ago before I moved to the NW. My professor at the time said that it was the largest specimen he had ever seen. I knew I should have kept it…

  • http://reefbuilders.com Brian Blank

    Gator that is incredible. Would freak me the $@#% out personally ;^)

  • http://reefbuilders.com Brian Blank

    Gator that is incredible. Would freak me the $@#% out personally ;^)

  • Leslie Harris

    Hey, it’s just an overgrown, adorable, roly-poly so stop talking smack about it!

    Just about everyone of the articles sparked off by these pics are full of mis-information. For the real scoop on them check out this post on Deep Sea News –
    http://deepseanews.com/2010/04/isopocalypse-2010-giant-isopods-storm-the-internets/

  • Leslie Harris

    Hey, it’s just an overgrown, adorable, roly-poly so stop talking smack about it!

    Just about everyone of the articles sparked off by these pics are full of mis-information. For the real scoop on them check out this post on Deep Sea News –
    http://deepseanews.com/2010/04/isopocalypse-2010-giant-isopods-storm-the-internets/

  • http://www.twolittlefishies.com Julian Sprung

    Hey Gator_doc,

    Was that Doctor Maturo you were with in the Dry Tortugas? I went on the same research cruise back in 1987. We caught a more typical sized Giant Isopod on that trip– about 12 inches or so.

  • http://www.twolittlefishies.com Julian Sprung

    Hey Gator_doc,

    Was that Doctor Maturo you were with in the Dry Tortugas? I went on the same research cruise back in 1987. We caught a more typical sized Giant Isopod on that trip– about 12 inches or so.

  • Gator_doc

    I can’t remember his name? I was at FIU at the time (premed major – crustacean class) and the trip was sometime in 1996…

  • Gator_doc

    I can’t remember his name? I was at FIU at the time (premed major – crustacean class) and the trip was sometime in 1996…

  • http://www.reefaquatica.com Hubert the Clownfishman

    @Cayman if Mantis shrimp is a delicacy, these might well be. Never know if you never try LOL

  • http://www.reefaquatica.com Hubert the Clownfishman

    @Cayman if Mantis shrimp is a delicacy, these might well be. Never know if you never try LOL

  • alex :)

    this wasent found by a deep sea submarine, one of my clasmates dad’s who works on a oil rig found thins, it was stuck to the drill when they lifted it out the water, allready dead when they found it, and he sent the photos to her is a email

  • alex :)

    this wasent found by a deep sea submarine, one of my clasmates dad’s who works on a oil rig found thins, it was stuck to the drill when they lifted it out the water, allready dead when they found it, and he sent the photos to her is a email