All-American Giant Isopod

thingiverse

It's not just a print, it's a movement! Call upon Congress to adopt the giant deep-sea isopod as the National Deep-sea Animal of the United States. The giant deep-sea isopod, Bathynomus giganteus, is a charismatic, iconic deep-sea species commonly found in the deep waters of the United States, particularly the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic. This large, recognizable animal, similar to a pill bug or roly poly, can reach almost 2 feet in length. Since their discovery in the late 19th century, giant isopods have captured the public’s imagination, acting as an Ambassador Species for deep-sea ecosystems. Ambassador Species are important for education, exploration, and conservation as they provide a charismatic icon to help introduce people to new and unfamiliar creatures and places. We call upon the Congress of the United States of America to establish the giant deep-sea isopod, Bathynomus giganteus, as our National Deep-sea Animal. Read a bit about the biology and ecology of the giant deep-sea isopod in our epic monograph: Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna. Observe the behavior of these mighty and enigmatic arthropods in these two videos: Giant deep-sea isopod digging a burrow and Giant deep-sea isopod swims away This print comes in 14 pieces, and yes, they are at original scale. This specimen was huge! I recommend scaling down to at least 50%, if not smaller. Help me continue to make true-to-life 3D models of marine organisms, as well as my other ocean science initiatives by supporting me on Patreon. Even a dollar or two a month goes a long way towards the continued development of my ocean projects.