Lousy day? Give a thought to these guys!
By CraftyCorner
@CraftyCorner (5600)
United States
April 6, 2010 12:18am CST
If you think your having a lousy day, give a thought to oil workers working in the Gulf of Mexico who dredged up a two foot long cousin of the WOODLOUSE. That's right, that is two feet, as in thirty inches, two foot long hotdogs end to end. This creepy is related to the pill bug.
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Our super sea pillbug's legs are arranged in seven pairs. It uses the front pair to manipulate and bring food to its four sets of jaws. It is a scavenger that feeds on dead whales, fish and shrimp.
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This species of isopod is abundant in the cold, deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is a good example of deep-sea gigantism.
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It is unknown if this is due to the colder temperature, higher pressure or scarcer food resources.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
7 Apr 10
The more you run...it appears the less you can hide from life!
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
6 Apr 10
That thing would be flipped back in the water in a hurry! Not that I am frightened or sickened by bugs, but one that large would creep me out.
It is interesting that they found it in the Gulf of Mexico. Humm, wonder if it might be that big from effluence consumption. Also how in the world did it get down there?
I took environmental biology and was enthralled. I would love to continue in that vein of education except for the fact that I refuse to dissect any previously living creature.
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
7 Apr 10
It's a sea louse. I giant sea going cousin of the wood louse. It eats the remains of whales, shrimps, anything it can get it's jaws on. Got so big because the water where it live is really really cold. Not because of...offal.
