This is the Giant Isopod, a gigantic, aquatic relative of the centimetre-or-so long woodlice in your garden. Woodlice (roly-pollies, pillbugs etc.) or isopods are actually a terrestrial crustacean rather than an insect or ‘bug’… and this one is a massive, marine one! Bathynomus giganteus, similarly to other isopods, have a marsupium or brood pouch – where their young develop and emerge as mini versions of the adults. They are abundant at depths of 310-2140 m in cold waters in the West Atlantic. Bathynomus giganteus, specifically, is classified a supergiant species at 17-50 cm long!! The ‘giant’ classification in giant isopods (and most of the bathynomus genus) are typically 8-15 cm long, which is still large. These crustaceans have two reflective, compound eyes, seven pairs of legs of which the first are modified like the pedipalps of spiders (or manipulating food) and have a tough exoskeleton. Isn’t it fascinating?