New species alert: Scientists discover giant deep-sea isopod family in Gulf of Mexico
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About 1 million species of animals live in the ocean. They should make room for one more: a nearly foot-long yellow isopod that thrives at the bottom of the sea. Identified as Bathonymus yucatanensis, the newly discovered species joins the nearly 20 living Bathonymus species. A group of Taiwanese, Japanese and Australians researchers discovered the new species in the Gulf of Mexico and published its findings Tuesday in the Journal of Natural History. The family of giant isopods – which are related to crabs, shrimp and lobsters – continues to grow with the new species, also referred to as B. yucatanensis.
What are isopods? Isopods are crustaceans: aquatic animals with several limbs and antennae all attached to one body. Although isopods range widely in size, the new species is about 26 centimeters long and about 2,500% larger than the average woodlouse. With 11 spines, B. yucatanensis is not your typical sea animal. The latest discovery is in low demand for fisheries in Taiwan and Japan, researchers said. The Bathonymus family is mostly common in tropical and temperate deep-sea areas.
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