Recent research indicates that the giant deep-sea amphipod, *Alicella gigantea*, is more widespread than previously thought. A 2025 study reveals that this crustacean, reaching up to 34 centimeters in length, inhabits approximately 59% of the world's oceans.
The study, led by Paige Maroni from the University of Western Australia and published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, compiled 195 records from 75 locations across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. *A. gigantea* thrives in the abyssal and hadal zones, at depths between 3,890 and 8,931 meters, where it faces extreme pressure, near-freezing temperatures, and complete darkness.
Genetic analysis suggests that *A. gigantea* possesses unique adaptations for survival in these extreme environments. These adaptations include genes related to energy conservation and high-pressure tolerance. The species' large size may aid in resource storage and starvation resistance in the food-scarce deep sea.