Caracterización biológica del isópodo gigante (<i>Bathynomus giganteus</i>) en aguas profundas del Caribe colombiano

Understanding the distribution and demographic structure of Bathynomus giganteus in the Colombian Caribbean is crucial for its conservation and management. Here we address three important aspects: a) the bathymetric and latitudinal distribution, identifying vertical and horizontal patterns that reveal its geographic range; b) the size structure at different stages of development, analyzing the variation in body length and wet weight from mancas to adults, and c) the sex ratio in adults, providing key information on population dynamics in the region. Between 2017 and 2018, 308 individuals of B. giganteus were collected in eight locations in the Colombian Caribbean at depths between 500 m and 2,300 m. We found that the largest number of adults was recorded between 700 m and 900 m, with a slight predominance of males (53.1%) over females (46.9%). A significant correlation was found between body length and wet weight, showing continuous growth during the different stages of development. This is the first study in Colombia to supply valuable information on the biology of B. giganteus in the Western Caribbean, providing useful baseline information that can be used in sustainable management actions for deep-water environments in Colombia and the Caribbean