Scientists have captured a huge crustacean in waters 4.5 miles down, in waters off the coast of the New Zealand.The researchers said that the supergiant amphipod measures ten times the normal size of the related species, which are normally around 2-3 cm (1 inch) long.

University of Aberdeen and Wellington’s NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) marine research institute scientists, found this supergiant amphipod during an expedition to the Kermadec Trench north of New Zealand.

Scientists said that this creature is normally up to 2-3 cm (around an inch) long, but this new is a 28 cm (11 inch) giant when emptying traps on his research vessel’s deck.

Alan Jamieson from the University of Aberdeen, said that he stopped and thought what on earth is it, and at the same time caught a glimpse of an amphipod far bigger than he ever thought possible.  He added it is a bit like finding a foot-long cockroach.

He said that another amphipod, that was not captured but it filmed by the expedition, was an estimated 34 cm long.

Principal scientist of National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Ashley Rowden, said that it just goes to show that the more you look, the more you find and for such a large and prominent animal to go unnoticed for so long is just proof to how little they know about life in New Zealand’s most deep and distinctive habitat.

Scientists said that in 1980s, the supergiant amphipods had been found only once before in the coast off Hawaii, adding that they did not know why the deep-sea creatures evolved to such a big in size.

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