Discover Bathynomus vaderi, a newly identified giant isopod species from Vietnam’s deep seas, named after Darth Vader.

Giant isopods of the genus Bathynomus, which can reach more than 30 cm in length, are known as bọ biển or "sea bugs" in Vietnam. For the first time, one such species was described from Vietnamese waters and named Bathynomus vaderi.

A species of giant isopod, Bathynomus vaderi, has been named following its harvesting in the waters off Vietnam. According to scientists who wrote about the giant crustacean in the journal ZooKeys, it can grow to at least 12 inches long.

A giant seabug which loves the dark side has been named after Star Wars ’ most famous Sith lord. Bathynomus vaderi is an isopod related to woodlice, capable of growing up to 32.5cm. Its size is comparable to a rabbit or even a young cat, weighing over 1kg.

Experts decided to name the species Bathynomus vaderi not only because its face looks like Darth Vader's helmet, but also because the creature is thought to live around 1000 metres underwater, where it is extremely dark.

Giant isopods, which belong to the Bathynomus genus, can grow to be over 11 inches, but the biggest ones reach nearly 20 inches in length . Bathynomus vaderi's size puts in the su

Bathynomus vaderi, a newly discovered giant isopod in Vietnam, is now a popular delicacy and highlights the urgent need to study and sustainably manage deep-sea ecosystems. Giant isopods of the genus Bathynomus,