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.

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.

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.

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) — Photo: Expedition to the Deep Slope 2006, NOAA-OE / Public domain / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Isopoda / Cirolanidae Source
Size: Body length 20–40 cm; large individuals approach 50 cm
Weight: Some individuals exceed 1 kg
Lifespan: Estimated at about 7.7 years for females and about 6 years for males
Diet: Carnivore A "scavenger of the deep" that feeds on the carcasses of large fish, whales, and other animals that sink to the seafloor
Distribution: Native to the deep seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic, typically at depths of 200-1,000 m. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated (NE)

Sources

en.wikipedia.org

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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
How many operating facilities are registered here?: Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3 Source

Books & gear

Source: aquarium.co.jp www.kankomie.or.jp aquarium.co.jp