Supergiant amphipod, found in deep seas off New Zealand

[G_j]

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/green/wildlife-news/120202/supergiant-amphipod-monster-crustacean-found-new-zealand

Fe. 2, 20012

Supergiant amphipod, monster crustacean, found in deep seas off New Zealand

Scientists found a huge crustacean, known as a "supergiant," in a deep oceanic trench off the coast of New Zealand.



A "supergiant" amphipod has been discovered in deep seas near New Zealand, said to be more than 10 times the size of other crustaceans of the same type.

The creature, spotted more than four miles deep in the Kermadec oceanic trench, measures 34cm (about 13 inches) long, the BBC reported. Usually, amphipods are between 2 and 3cm.

"It's a bit like finding a foot-long cockroach," said one of the scientists that discovered it, Dr. Alan Jamieson of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

When supergiant first showed itself, Jamieson said, "I stopped and thought 'What on earth is that?' whilst catching a glimpse of an amphipod far bigger than I ever thought possible."


..more..

[JoePhilly]

1. Now THAT is a jumbo shrimp!!!

[Champion Jack]

2. Mmmmmmmmmmm jumbo shrimp.....

[joeybee12]

3. KNR...fascinating...

Although it's kind of creepy looking!

[redqueen]

10. My thoughts exactly.

Those legs look like the 'fingers' on a face-hugger (that thing from Alien).

[Blue_Tires]

4. Zoidberg's ancestor?

[hifiguy]

11. LOL

[Blue_Tires]

15. I've thought for awhile now Futurama

Is much more prescient about the (distant) future than we give it credit for, even in satire

[Rex]

5. Yikes. A footlong shrimp!

So that must be a super-jumbo shrimp.

[snooper2]

6. Four of those on the grill, yummy

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Giant amphipods - food for ... giant isopods!

http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/cthulhus-pet-giant-isopod-25-feet-found-attached-to-underwater-robot.html

My woodlouse can take your shrimp at any time ...

[Yo_Mama]

14. That species is believed to be 160 million years old

They've found virtually identical specimens off India, Australia and Mexico, so they say it must date back to Pangaea.

Fortunately, they are deep-water critters. It's not as if one would be swimming along and meet one face-to-face:

[G_j]

22. now that does

look like an alien, Hollywood is calling..

[eShirl]

17. it's like a proto-lobster

[quaker bill]

21. They appear very similar to a pill bug

When I was a grad student in bio the marine scientists caught a few in the Gulf of Mexico with a very deep water dredge. They iced them down and brought them back to campus. They put them in the freezer for later study and description. They did not freeze right away, but instead started wandering around the freezer and eating other specimens. They are very tough critters capable of living in very cold water at very high pressures with extremely little oxygen.

[DotGone]

8. I, for one, welcome our new giant shrimp overlords n/t

[hifiguy]

9. Fascinating, captain.

But the giant squid is still the best weird sea beast.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. "Foot long cockroach"...shudder shudder

I have problems eating lobster for that reason....

[GoCubsGo]

19. A bad, bad comparison.

Even though it's technically correct on one level--both are arthropods. Think of it and lobster, instead, as giant shrimp, they are a much closer relative. And, a farkin' cool one, at that!

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. I know I am bucking the current, so to speak.

But there ya are.

[leeroysphitz]

13. Amphipod= giant albino aquatic roach.

Yuck etc...

[eShirl]

16. it's like "world's tallest midget"

RANDY: Last year they had the world's tallest midget. He was as tall as you Earl, remember?
EARL: I think that might have been a scam, Randy
RANDY: I don't know Earl, that was one tall midget.

[trof]

18. Throw another shrimp on the barbie. (photo)