Giant shrimp-like creature discovered in the deep
We're taking a closer look at this interesting story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:
Killer Giant Amphipods
Submitted by bailey78
Marine scientists found a mysterious "supergiant" amphipods off the northern coast of New Zealand. The largest pinkish amphipod measured in at 11 inches long, almost three times greater than the previous record-holder.
Alan Jamieson, a marine biologist at the University of Aberdeen and co-leader of the expedition, was hoping to find a species of snailfish that had eluded scientists' capture for half a century—but was shocked by the giant, shrimp-like amphipod instead.
"Amphipods are common to deep-sea trenches, but they're usually 2 to 3 centimeters [about an inch] long. They turn up in a matter of minutes like a swarm of bees and simply devour all of the bait," Jamieson said.
"Now all of the sudden we have this monster amphipod and no other known sizes in between."
The community reacts to the unique new species:
ThatCrazyLibertarian: "Interesting looking critters. Hard to believe that something can live at those depths. And yes, they do look like they'd make a good meal....."
Kelly_Balthrop: "Wow, I will never by able to call someone a shrimp again. They might take it as a compliment, lol."
coolplanet: "Reminds me of an episode of Gilligan's Island where the food was radioactive. Yummy? ;}"
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SecretJeff2284
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Well the Trenches tend to have the ripe conditions for these pre-historic creatures and organisms that are merely a range of 5 to 10 feet from the combining plates and gravitational push the sea water produces(weight that exceeds 100 Tons).
- 3 months ago
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SecretJeff2284
