Giant Isopodダイオウグソクムシ
Bathynomus giganteusNE— Not Evaluated
The giant isopod is one of the largest deep-sea crustaceans known, dwelling on the seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic at depths of 200-1,000 m. A scavenger that feeds on the carcasses of large fish and whales, it is famous for surviving extreme fasting, including one Toba Aquarium specimen that went without food for over five years.
Giant Isopod (reference photo)
Species Data
Did You Know?
- Its compound eyes are made up of roughly 3,500 individual facets, among the largest compound eyes known in arthropods. Source
- An individual known as "No. 1" kept at Toba Aquarium famously went without eating for five years and one month (1,869 days), from January 2009 to February 2014. Source
- It is frequently cited alongside the giant squid as a classic example of deep-sea gigantism. Source
Where to See This Species
3 facilities · 0 individuals
Toba AquariumMieOpened in 1955
「へんな生きもの研究所」で展示。5年以上絶食した個体が話題になった。 Source
すさみ町立エビとカニの水族館 (Susami Chouritsu Ebitokanino Suizokukan)Wakayama
すさみ町立エビとカニの水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source
新江ノ島水族館 (Shinenoshima Suizokukan)KanagawaOpened in 2004
新江ノ島水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
IUCNレッドリストでは評価が行われておらず(NE)、個体数動向を継続的に追跡した調査も限られる。
Habitat
メキシコ湾を中心とする水深200〜1000mの深海砂泥底
Threats
- 底引き網漁業での混獲(2001年の調査船漁のみで55,475個体が混獲され、放流後の死亡率は50〜100%と推定された)
- 深海に流れ込むプラスチックごみの誤飲
Sources
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FAQ
- How long can a giant isopod go without eating?
- They are remarkably tolerant of starvation; one individual at Toba Aquarium in Japan went 1,869 days (about five years and one month) without eating. Source
- What does a giant isopod eat?
- It is a deep-sea scavenger that mainly feeds on the carcasses of large fish, whales, and squid that sink to the seafloor. Source
- How deep does the giant isopod live?
- It typically inhabits depths of about 200 to 1,000 m on the muddy, sandy floor of the Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic. Source