Researchers exploring the wares of fishers in Vietnam discovered a “supergiant” sea bug species whose resemblance to Darth ...

A marine crustacean that looks like Darth Vader’s helmet has been recognised as a new species, but it could be under threat ...

In recent years, the deep-sea giant isopod has also become a seafood delicacy in Vietnam, where it was discovered ...

Deep beneath the waves of the South China Sea, a fascinating creature has surfaced—Bathynomus vaderi, a newly discovered species of giant isopod. This "supergiant" crustacean reaches lengths of over ...

Currently, there are only 11 known “supergiant” and nine “giant” Bathynomus species, with several awaiting formal description, according to the study. B. vaderi is only the second recorded supergiant ...

The discovery of Bathynomus vaderi began when researchers at Hanoi University purchased four giant isopods in Vietnam's Quy Nhơn City back in early 2022. They sent two of them to National ...

The new species has been named Bathynomus vaderi, as its head resembles the distinctive helmet of Darth Vader from “Star Wars ...

Because it's likely B. vaderi live beyond Vietnam's coastal waters, the commercial interest has raised concerns that the growing market for giant isopods could lead to overfishing in the South ...