Uploaded November 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Snack time, anyone?
This giant isopod (Bathynomous giganteus) was seen snacking on a fish head (uh, yum?!) during Dive 11 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.
These deep-sea scavengers are close relatives of the pill bugs, rolly pollies, and sowbugs found in houses and gardens, but Bathynomus giganteus is much, much larger, growing up to a foot and a half in length. Although giant isopods have been known to exist for more than a century, we still don't know all that much about their biology or behavior, making capturing videos like this one incredibly important (and also really cool).
Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.
Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1907/welcome.html
Snack time, anyone?
This giant isopod (Bathynomous giganteus) was seen snacking on a fish head (uh, yum?!) during Dive 11 of the 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.
These deep-sea scavengers are close relatives of the pill bugs, rolly pollies, and sowbugs found in houses and gardens, but Bathynomus giganteus is much, much larger, growing up to a foot and a half in length. Although giant isopods have been known to exist for more than a century, we still don't know all that much about their biology or behavior, making capturing videos like this one incredibly important (and also really cool).
Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration.
Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1907/welcome.html







![Octopuss Garden: Windows to the Deep 2018
From April 9 to 30, 2019, scientists will embark on the DEEP SEARCH 2019 (short for DEEP Sea Exploration to Advance Research on Coral/Canyon/Cold seep Habitats) expedition to explore deepwater habitats offshore the U.S. Mid- and South Atlantic coasts. Three named canyons occur within the DEEP SEARCH study region off the coast of North Carolina: Keller, Hatteras, and Pamlico.
During the Windows to the Deep 2018: Exploration of the Southeast U.S. Continental Margin expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, we explored Keller Canyon and encountered FIVE octopods over the course of the dive! Octopus are known to be the masters of hiding in their oceanic habitats, we were pretty lucky to see these Bathypolypus bairdiion. Cant wait to see what is uncovered during exploration of Keller on the DEEP SEARCH 2019 expedition!
For more from the Windows to the Deep 2018 expedition, visit: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1806/welcome.html
To learn more about DEEP SEARCH 2019, visit: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/19deepsearch/welcome.html
Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2018.
[Source: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1806/logs/june29-2/june29-2.html] Octopuss Garden: Windows to the Deep 2018](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Am9nHJZzwnc/mqdefault.jpg)


