Giant Isopod

About the Giant Isopod

Deep-sea relatives of woodlice that grow to 50 cm. They can survive 5+ years without food by dramatically reducing their metabolism. They are scavengers of the deep ocean floor, eating dead whales and fish that sink from above. They live at 300-2,500 meters depth. Over 20 species exist. They were first discovered in 1879. They curl into a ball when threatened like their terrestrial cousins. They are a delicacy in Taiwan. They have compound eyes with 4,000 facets. They can grow much larger than their shallow-water relatives due to deep-sea gigantism. Their blue blood contains hemocyanin.