Researchers from University of Aberdeen and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) discovered ‘supergiant’ amphipods while exploring the Kermadec Trench, north of New Zealand. These explorers were searching for deep sea snailfish , but at depths of approximately 7000 meters, they discovered these amphipods that are nearly ten times that of ‘normal’ amphipods.
To put this find, and the above photo, into the proper context these guys are normally 2-3cms long. Some of the individuals captured by these researchers were up to 34cm in length… more than 10 x the usual size! According to Dr Alan Jamieson from the University of Aberdeen’s Oceanlab:
“It’s a bit like finding a foot long cockroach.”
