# What the heck is this? (sea creature) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755 "2010-03-25T16:03:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/1 "2010-03-25T16:03:23Z")
The linked photos were sent to me this morning and show an armored, segmented, multi-legged sea creature found riding a subsea ROV employed on a semisubmersible drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Estimated length, based on other objects in the pic, is 12-18 inches. I don’t have clue what it is. Any help greatly appreciated. [Side view](http://www.flickr.com/photos/42561499@N00/4461958753/) [head-on view](http://www.flickr.com/photos/42561499@N00/4461959071/) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/2 "2010-03-25T16:06:09Z")
Seems this question gets asked every few months. It’s a [giant marine isopod](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_marine_isopod). ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/3 "2010-03-25T16:06:49Z")
[Giant isopod.](http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Giant_isopod) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/4 "2010-03-25T16:24:50Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Seems this question gets asked every few months. It’s a [giant marine isopod](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_marine_isopod). Three minutes, well done. I love this place. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/5 "2010-03-25T16:28:34Z")
I want to eat it. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/6 "2010-03-25T16:41:50Z")
> [@Mooch](#): > > I want to eat it. It looks like it may want to eat you. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/7 "2010-03-25T17:01:50Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > It looks like it may want to eat you. Or at least [part of you](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/09/tongue-eating-parasite-discovered.php). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/8 "2010-03-25T17:09:58Z")
Nemo? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/9 "2010-03-25T18:57:04Z")
> [@Mooch](#): > > I want to eat it. Form an orderly queue. Me first. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/10 "2010-03-25T19:03:03Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Form an orderly queue. Me first. Hie thee to northern Taiwan. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/11 "2010-03-25T19:04:48Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Three minutes, well done. Yeah, not bad for an _isop facto_. You guys go ahead on the cullinary conquest. I’m not sure there’s enough butter in the world… ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/12 "2010-03-25T19:05:18Z")
Giant Roly-Poly!! Ewwwww. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/13 "2010-03-25T20:01:35Z")
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! THAT THING AGAIN!!! KILL IT!! KILL IT WITH FIRE!!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/14 "2010-03-25T20:05:18Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Form an orderly queue. Me first. It looks like it’s made entirely out of a lobster tail! Some lemon and drawn butter with mine please. And a nice cold bottle of beer. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/15 "2010-03-25T20:10:36Z")
It’s amazing they let him work the controls of such a complex piece of machinery. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/16 "2010-03-25T20:11:20Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! THAT THING AGAIN!!! KILL IT!! KILL IT WITH FIRE!!! :eek: You’re pretty squeamish for a Lurker at the Threshold. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/17 "2010-03-25T20:19:28Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Or at least [part of you](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/09/tongue-eating-parasite-discovered.php). Holy crap, that’s disturbing. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/18 "2010-03-25T21:28:25Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > It’s amazing they let him work the controls of such a complex piece of machinery. Thread win. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/19 "2010-03-26T00:52:22Z")
Someone posted [this](http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-PRETTY&Category_Code=001) in the last thread where we discussed isopods. I got one for my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755/20 "2010-03-26T03:52:10Z")
I for one welcome…etc., etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-this-sea-creature/533755.md?page=2)