Bathynomus Giganteus: Reddit Solves Mystery of Giant Isopod

The post reads, "I work for a Sub-sea Survey Company, recently this beast came up attached to one of our ROVs. It measures a wee bit over 2.5 feet head to tail, and we expect it latched onto the ROV at roughly 8,500 feet depth. Unfortunately, the e-mail that these pictures were attached to came from a contractor, and the ship he was operating from (and therefore location) is unknown, so I can't tell you what part of the Earth this beast was living."

Maturing to an average length between 19 and 36 centimetres (7.5 and 14 in)[1], and maximally reaching a weight and height of approximately 1.7 kilograms (3.7 lb) and 76 centimetres (30 in) respectively in B. giganteus,[citation needed] giant isopods are a good example of deep-sea gigantism(cf. giant squid); most other isopods range in size from 1 to 5 centimetres (0.39 to 2.0 in). Their morphology is nonetheless familiar to most people as giant isopods closely resemble their terrestrial cousin, the woodlouse

 It is carnivorous and is a valuable scavenger, eating from the deep sea floor whatever falls from above, including  bodies of whales, fish, and squid. It may also feed on slow-moving sea cucumbers and sponges.  Food is scarce in the deep ocean, and they are adapted to long periods of famine, and will gorge when food is plentiful.