A recent study from the University of Western Australia reveals that the supergiant amphipod, Alicella gigantea, is more widespread than previously believed. Published in May 2025, the research indicates that this large, pale, shrimp-like creature inhabits approximately 59% of the world's oceans.
The study compiled nearly 200 records from 75 locations across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. A. gigantea occupies a depth range of 3,890 to 8,931 meters. This challenges earlier assumptions about the species' rarity.
Genetic analysis suggests that A. gigantea possesses unique adaptations for survival in the hadal zone. These include genes related to energy conservation and high-pressure tolerance. Its large size, potentially influenced by genes like aPKC, may aid in resource storage and starvation resistance in the food-scarce deep sea, contributing to its success in extreme marine environments.