Supergiant crustaceans could live across half the deep-sea floor

image via New Scientist

May 21, 2025, 12:01 AM

• •The Alicella gigantea, the world's largest amphipod, may be more common than previously thought.

The article discusses the Alicella gigantea, the world's largest amphipod, and its potential prevalence in the deep sea. Researchers have compiled 75 records of the crustacean, finding it in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. Genetic analysis suggests that the species is genetically similar across vast distances and depths, indicating a wider habitat range than previously estimated. The findings challenge the assumption that deep-sea species are rare, suggesting the crustaceans might inhabit a significant portion of the ocean floor.

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