India, Dec. 29 -- The supergiant amphipod Alicella gigantea, which was earlier regarded as rare, has now been discovered to be prevalent and flourishing in the ocean's most profound and extreme habitats.

For many years, Alicella gigantea, a giant, shrimp-like crustacean, was perceived as a deep-sea oddity, with infrequent sightings regarded as exceptions. However, a recent study suggests that this species is significantly more widespread than was once thought.

Researchers have historically regarded the deep-sea Alicella gigantea as a rare inhabitant of the abyss.

However, recent genetic and exploratory studies published in Royal Society Open Science have revealed that this enormous crustacean occupies nearly 59 percent of the ocean flo...