New "Supergiant" Isopod Species Named After Darth Vader
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With two pairs of antennae, large compound eyes, and four sets of jaws, giant isopods look like creatures from a science fiction movie. Now, researchers have discovered a new "supergiant" isopod species with a head strikingly similar to Darth Vader’s helmet. In a nod to the iconic Star Wars villain, they have named it Bathynomus vaderi (B. vaderi).
“I am the biggest Star Wars fan in the team, as it’s my vintage. The first movie was in 1977, in my youth, and it was cool,” said study co-author Peter Ng, a crustacean researcher at the National University of Singapore. “But we all agree that the face of B. vaderi looks so much like Darth Vader that it just had to be named after the Sith Lord.”
The newly found species belongs to the Bathynomus family, a genus of about 20 giant isopod species. These massive creatures inhabit the deepest parts of the ocean, making them difficult to study. Despite their scary appearance, giant isopods are harmless to humans. They feed on dead animals and decaying matter, playing a crucial role in recycling nutrients.
Weighing more than 2.2 pounds (1 kg) and reaching lengths of up to 12.8 inches (32.5 cm), B. vaderi is one of the largest known giant isopod species. But it is not the largest. That title belongs to B. jamesi, which can reach about 20 inches (50 cm) and weigh over 5 pounds (2.26 kg). So far, B. vaderi has only been found near an island in the South China Sea. But it may also inhabit other areas of the region.
While this species is new to science, locals in Vietnam and China have been enjoying it and other giant isopods as seafood since 2017. Once considered an accidental catch by fishers, they are now a seafood delicacy. In fact, the four B. vaderi specimens examined by the scientists came from markets and restaurants in Vietnam.
The researchers published their findings in the journal ZooKeys on January 14, 2025. They worry that increased demand for giant isopods as seafood could threaten their populations. These creatures lay few eggs and grow slowly. If their popularity keeps rising, they could vanish.
Though often called sea bugs, isopods are crustaceans more closely related to lobsters and shrimp. There are an estimated 10,000 isopod species, most of which are extremely small. These creatures inhabit a wide range of environments, from mountains and deserts to the deep sea. Despite their diverse habitats, all isopods have segmented bodies, multiple legs, and a rigid exoskeleton. This gives them an alien-like appearance, especially the giant deep-sea isopods.
Resources: CNN.com, Smithsonianmag.com, Wikipedia.org
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37 Comments
mylycapemokuabout 21 hoursCool
annel3 daysI think it is a little disgusting but also pretty cool
wicehazuzoka4 daysinteresting
thatjj7 daysoooo, this makes my body shiver....
whaleng7 daysi know right
- zabuwyko-1730376216607 daysIts kinda cute
- annelabout 24 hoursyou really think that thing is cute, I don't really agree with you
- davicygeleja8 daysI want one lol
- mariahsmith8 daysIt’s cool but I will not eat that
fcb3769 daysI see the resemblance XD
enigmaticreader9 daysAwesome
sarthak10 daysThat is really cool!
