Everyone knows them: they romp in flower pots or under stones – the woodlice. In the Gulf of Mexico, researchers have now discovered a new giant isopod species in the deep sea, about 26 centimeters long, about 25 times larger than the woodlice.
The species, called Bathynomus yucatanensis with the spotted and yellow-colored top, was discovered at a depth of 600 to 800 meters off the Yucatán Peninsula. Researchers originally thought it was a variant of the giant isopod Bathynomus giganteus.
Animal caught in live trap in 2017
But closer examination of an animal caught in a bait trap in 2017 revealed some unique features, the team led by Ming-Chih Huang of the National University of Tainan (Taiwan) reports in the Journal of Natural History.
The identification of the new species brings the total number of known Bathynomus species in the Gulf of Mexico to three. According to the information, the appearance of the species is very similar, the scientists said. According to this, about 20 extant Bathynomus species are known worldwide, living in deep parts of the oceans and breathing through gills.
Animals completely harmless to humans
The deep sea woodlice belong to the same group of animals as the woodlice found under rocks or in the ground. They are quite similar except for the size. The largest of the sea creatures can be about 50 centimeters long. Like woodlice, they are completely harmless to humans.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
