Unsettling footage captured in the Gulf of Mexico shows giant isopods the size of FOOTBALLS devouring an alligator carcass
- For the first time ever, experts saw how the ocean disposes of large reptiles
- In the experiment, two alligator carcasses were dropped to the ocean floor
- The result was a host of hungry isopods clamoring to devour the bounty
- Researchers are keeping their eyes peeled for other creatures that may join
While alligators may be apex predators during their lifetime, when they die, many return to the watery depths to become just another part of the food chain, shows new research.
In the first-ever ‘food fall’ involving sea-faring reptiles — in this case Alligators —researchers dropped two carcasses to the bottom of the ocean to find out just how their bodies might be disposed of.
What they discovered was that, like other animals of scale that live in the Earth’s oceans, the Alligator carcasses quickly became a feast for a bevy of bottom-feeding sea bugs called isopods.
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In the first-ever ‘food fall’ involving sea-faring reptiles — in this case Alligators —researchers dropped two carcasses to the bottom of the ocean to find out just how their bodies might be disposed of. Isopods quickly came in to clean up the mess (shown)
For those unfamiliar with the scavenging sea creatures, they may look strikingly similar to a land insect known as Armadillidiidae, commonly referred to as Pill Bugs or ‘Roly Poly bugs.’
The similarity is no coincidence, according to researchers.
Both the isopods and pill bugs come from the same order of animals.
One major difference, aside from their size — giant isopods grow to be roughly the size of an American football — is their insatiable appetite.
In the video, scientists observed some of the creatures gorging on the carcass until they were almost completely immobile.
Their gluttonous tendencies aren’t merely a character flaw, however.
Researchers say the ability to consume obscene amounts of food may also serve as a biological tool that helps isopods survive long periods of time on infrequent, or even rare, meals.
Inside the creatures is mostly lipid and fat, say the scientists which allows for long term storage of energy in between meals which can take periods of months or even years.
Some giant isopods kept in captivity in Okinawa, Japan have gone without feeding for more than two years.
One particularly shocking case involved an isopod going a whole five years without food before dying.
The creatures weren’t only ravenous when it came to their alligator meal, they were extremely efficient, noted researchers.
In the video, scientists observed some of the creatures gorging on the carcass until they were almost completely immobile
Using their strong mandibles, the scavengers were able to pierce the tough hide of the alligator and even burrow their way through bone and into the reptile’s chest cavity.
Experts say it will likely take about two months for scavengers to get through half of the alligator and in the meantime they will keep a lookout for other types of scavengers that may join the dinner party, like certain types of bone-eating worms.
Observations made throughout the experiment can be applied toward understanding deep-sea food webs say scientists, offering a glimpse into creatures that could have disposed of other more ancient reptiles.
