Who wants to see an amphipod the size of a rabbit?
- Thread starter Maguari
- Start date
these guys are HUGE! The species is believed to be Alicella gigantea, which is known from deep waters in both Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, so (probably) not a new species as implied in most media (in fact A. gigantea was described way back in 1899!). Specimens up to 34cm have been found in the north Pacific before, so these NZ ones aren't massively over-sized compared to what was known anyway (again, in contradiction to most media reports). But still very very cool, and imagine seeing one in the flesh at a public aquarium!!
Rather surprisingly the find got a segment in a prime-time current affairs programme over here, which y'all should definitely watch: Meeting our latest underwater giant - Campbell Live - Video - 3 News
Rather surprisingly the find got a segment in a prime-time current affairs programme over here, which y'all should definitely watch: Meeting our latest underwater giant - Campbell Live - Video - 3 News
Cool news. There may be many other cool surprises lurking in the mostly unexplored ocean depths.
I'd imagine so. Don't be a spoil-sport 
Just for interest's sake, while all collected specimens have been obtained at depths of around 5-7km or more, a female A. gigantea with an estimated (if it had been intact) length of 34cm was collected from an albatross's regurgitated stomach contents at Laysan Island so they potentially can come to the surface waters (but its probably more likely that it was inside the stomach of something else that the albatross ate). They are presumably common though with their wide distribution, so I look forward to the day when someone does keep them successfully. I mean, giant isopods are kept in several aquariums (admittedly not as deep-living but still....)
Just for interest's sake, while all collected specimens have been obtained at depths of around 5-7km or more, a female A. gigantea with an estimated (if it had been intact) length of 34cm was collected from an albatross's regurgitated stomach contents at Laysan Island so they potentially can come to the surface waters (but its probably more likely that it was inside the stomach of something else that the albatross ate). They are presumably common though with their wide distribution, so I look forward to the day when someone does keep them successfully. I mean, giant isopods are kept in several aquariums (admittedly not as deep-living but still....)