Giant isopod discovered in South China Sea earns name inspired by ‘Star Wars’

Dr. Conni Sidabalok examines individual specimens of Bathynomus vaderi at Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in Singapore. PHOTO: RENE ONG | PENSOFT PUBLISHERS

The science website, Live Science, reported that scientists have recently discovered a giant sea bug after studying samples purchased from fishers in Vietnam.

Bathynomus vaderi belongs to the genus Bathynomus — giant isopods that are abundant in cold, deep waters. The giant sea bug weighs more than 2.2 pounds(!) and grows up to 12.8 inches long, which makes it one of the largest known isopods.

The species received its name “vaderi” because its head resembles Darth Vader’s helmet from “Star Wars.”

According to the article, B. vaderi has only been found near the Spratly Islands, an archipelago in the South China Sea, but it may also live in other parts of the South China Sea.

For the new study, published Jan. 15 in the journal ZooKeys, researchers examined samples caught by local fishers and found that B. vaderi’s pronounced depression in its hip bone and a unique bony ridge protruding from its coracoid bone distinguished it from other supergiant isopods.

Bathynomus vaderi (Photo courtesy of ZooKeys)

Researchers noted that Bathynomus species have recently become a delicacy in Vietnam, often compared to lobster. The local demand has turned these sea bugs into an expensive staple of the seafood market.

<p>The post Giant isopod discovered in South China Sea earns name inspired by ‘Star Wars’ first appeared on Pest Management Professional.</p>

from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2025/01/22/giant-isopod-discovered-in-south-china-sea-earns-name-inspired-by-star-wars/
Sacramento CA