A giant amphipod measuring nearly a foot long is making the news circuit after being discovered near New Zealand at a depth of 7 kilometers. This was not an isolated occurrence as scientists were able to capture seven of these giants that measured in at 28 cm (around 11 in.) that are 10 times larger than your “normal” deap-sea amphipods and three times larger than your typical giant amphipods.
Ever so often a stray giant is found, like the giant isopod that made the Reddit rounds nearly two years ago, but this time the research team was able to film them in their own environment and capture multiple giant amphipods to study. Not to be outdone, there is one supergiant amphipod that got away that scientists estimate measured 34 cm (over 13 in.).
According to new reports, scientists with the university and New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research were hunting for deep-sea snailfish when a trap they were using made the unexpected catch of these giant amphipods.
These supergiant creatures were found around Hawaii in the 1970s and 80s but haven’t really been reported since. Being caught 7 km (around 4 miles) beneath the surface also marks the deepest point these supergiant amphipods were found. Check out the video below more more detail.
Thanks Mr. Sprung for the tip!
[via CNN]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNES2tNPtu4[/youtube]
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