Sep 17, 2007

Tell Me It's Not True

Please, someone tell me that this is photoshopped. I don't know if I can live in a world with crustaceans who eat the same chips as me. What are they? How did they get their...legs...on a bag of Doritos? Should we alert Frito-Lay that their inventory is under threat?

Thanks for the photo, bats. You've just ruined my appetite.

17 comments:

Takhys said...

Nope, those are real giant Isopods!

Arachnophile said...

that being said, the picture is posed I think. Giant Isopods don't make it to the surface alive, I'm pretty sure.

Those may be real specamins and, if the doritos were on the bottom of the ocean, at great depths, then they'd likely be interested in doritos but this situation wouldn't happen naturally.

Though, I've been known to be wrong before ;p Many, MANY times.

Anonymous said...

I discovered that these were isopods after I sent the photo to Wombat (sorry about the appetite thing, boss). I got it from a site called deepwrecks.com, which is finding WWII ships sunk in the Gulf of Mexico by German U-boats (eek!). Evidently (unless I was reading too fast), there are some more "coastal" shallow water isopods.
That being said, I don't know if they eat Doritos or not.
And in keeping with U.O. and T.L.A.P.D., some for all the ugly afficiandos here (I hope the link works...I'm such a Luddite...and I hope the Boss Wombat is okay with it):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9545446@N07/1408558435/

booge said...

Ewww. Eww! I can feel their feet tripp Trampp TROMPPING on my spinal cord like the Billy Goats Gruff. Truly a feast of the ugly.

Jade said...

Best picture EVER!!! :D

Takhys said...

I know that I've seen a couple pictures of them on boats, in tanks and so I'm pretty sure they were alive at that point.

Either way, here's a video of them being very alive and hungry.

Anonymous said...

Nnngaaaaaaah!!! *falls over twitching*

Katie said...

Oh Christ, Takhys. That footage creeped me out the first time I saw it, and I just KNEW that's what you had linked to.

But I watched it again anyway. I hate myself.

But I have to laugh at that last crab that comes back to pick up the very last little bit. :)

Anonymous said...

This is the first time I've ever gotten the official heebie-jeebies from a UO picture. Thanks. Thanks so much. *ick icky jeebie ick*

Anonymous said...

Okay. I think the Giant Isopods are sorta cute. I wonder if there are any 'plush' versions out there? Or maybe a Giant Isopod back massager thingie with battery opperated legs? Okay, maybe not :::shiver::: Anyway, Frito Lay should really consider adopting these lovely creatures as a new mascot.

Nothing Never said...

((heave))
You have really outdone yourself
((eck))

Anonymous said...

It's official, Isopods give me the creeps just like centepieds. *shiver*

Arachnophile said...

Thanks for the link Takhys. I've seen that video before and these are shots taken in the isopod's habitat, which is deep water. Any vid or pics I've seen of them alive have been the same.

I was just meaning to say earlier that that picture looked like it was taken above water. If that's the case then, those are dead, or at least not up to foraging crusties. ;) I'm pretty sure the change in pressure does them in when they are collected for study.

My eye may be wrong and this IS an underwater shot but I've got my doubts.

I hope that makes sense.

Anonymous said...

Ya know, they look JUST LIKE WALKING LOBSTER TAILS!

Please pass the melted butter!

On second thought, are they edible?

Anonymous said...

Looks like Bathynomus giganteus. I made also a short post about them at my blog, with some more detailed photos I made in museum: http://bestiarium.kryptozoologie.net/?p=124

Takhys said...

I totally agree that it's an above-water shot, but I could've sworn I've seen a video of them alive and on a ship somewhere.

I remember being impressed because I thought the pressure would have inverted them or something. (Inverted inverts?)

Arachnophile said...

LOL, inverted inverts... does sound like nerdy-alt-band name doesn't it. ;)

You may be right about their abiltiy to survive outside of the deep. I'll have to keep my eyes open. :D