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Giant Isopod
This NOAA image shows a giant isopod (Bathynomus giganteus). They are common throughout the cold, deep waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. This species is often considered to be the largest isopod in the world. It is related to the small pill bugs you can find in your garden. The giant isopod grows to a length of 16 inches (40 centimeters) and can be found at depths of up to 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). It is a scavenger, feeding mostly on dead whales, fish, and squid that fall to the ocean floor.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, Gulf of Mexico 2012 Expedition
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