The Key West Aquarium recently received seven giant deep sea isopods, also known as Bathynomus giganteus, which will be on public display in the aquarium’s Scavengers of the Deep exhibit.

These giant isopods are found in the deeper, dark waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as the Gulf of Mexico.  They primarily feed on the remains of animals that sink to the ocean floor.  To recreate this environment, the Key West Aquarium team has hand crafted a “whale fall” (or simulated whale carcass) to help educate guests about this rarely seen crustacean.  Each isopod can reach lengths of over one foot long, providing an excellent example of deep sea gigantism.