Giant Isopod: The Super Pillbug

Wednesday April 4, 2007

     The giant isopod scientific name is Bathynomus giganteus. It is the largest member of the Isopod family. It is related to the little pillbugs you might find in your back yard. The giant isopod is a carnivorous crustacean that hunts and scavenges on the deep ocean floor. They are all over the world’s oceans at 550-7020 ft (170-2140 m). Food is very rare in the ocean depths, so the giant isopod will eat whatever it can find. Giant isopods can grow to be 18 inches (45 cm). If the giant isopod is attacked or scared, it will roll up in a ball. Giant isopods have complex mouths.


Giant Isopod, compared to a hand