SAEDNEWS: This giant-legged creature was discovered between the islands of Java and Sumatra, as well as in the Indian Ocean, astonishing zoologists.
According to Saed News’ society section, this newly discovered creature belongs to the order of isopods—large, flat-bodied animals whose appearance closely resembles that of a woodlouse and which live in the deep sea. This giant isopod was found at depths of 957 to 1,259 meters in the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Java and Sumatra, as well as in the Indian Ocean.
The average length of an adult specimen is 33 centimeters, although some other species in the isopod order can reach up to 50 centimeters. This is the first time this species has been found in Indonesia’s deep waters. The research team notes that studies in this region are relatively rare.
One contributing factor to their survival is the scarcity of predators in deep waters, allowing these animals to grow safely. Additionally, compared to other crustaceans, such as crabs, isopods contain less meat, making them less appealing to predators.
Isopods also have long antennae and large eyes, adaptations that help them navigate the dark depths of their habitat. Despite their unusual appearance, these creatures are not particularly threatening.
They feed on the flesh of dead animals that have sunk to the ocean floor. Essentially, these animals are scavengers, prowling the seabed for carcasses to sustain themselves. According to the Natural History Museum in London, their metabolism is extremely slow. In fact, one giant isopod kept in Japan reportedly survived for five years without eating a single bite of food.
