giant isopod (bathynomus giganteus)
Looking like it just crawled out of a bad science fiction movie, the giant isopod is without a doubt one of the strangest creatures found in the deep sea. The giant isopod is related to the small pillbugs that you can find in the garden. Giant isopods are not usually fished commercially, although some can be found in the occasional oceanside restaurant in northern Taiwan, where they are boiled and served with rice. The giant isopod can grow to a length of over 16 inches, which makes it one of the largest members of the crustacean family. Its body is protected by a hard shell that is divided into segments, this allows it to be strong and flexible. When threatened, this animal can roll itself into a ball to protect its vulnerable underside. The isopod has compound eyes, with over 4,000 individual facets, giving the animal a large field of view, and makes it extremely sensitive to fast movements. The giant isopod has developed large antennae to feel its way around as it crawls along the ocean floor.
