New Giant Sea Bug Species Named After Darth Vader Discovered in Vietnam

The Bathynomus vaderi, a foot-long deep-sea crustacean, is notable for its resemblance to the Star Wars villain and its growing popularity as a delicacy.

• The newly identified Bathynomus vaderi is a 'supergiant' isopod species found in the South China Sea near Vietnam's Spratly Islands.
• Named for its helmet-like head resembling Darth Vader, the species measures up to 12.8 inches in length and weighs over 2.2 pounds.
• The discovery highlights the vast, underexplored biodiversity of the deep sea and the challenges of identifying new species in these depths.
• B. vaderi has become a delicacy in Vietnam, with its taste often compared to lobster, raising concerns about overfishing due to its slow reproduction rate.
• Scientists hope the discovery will lead to more sustainable fishing practices and further research into deep-sea ecosystems.

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