'Supergiant' sea bug discovered in Vietnam looks like Star Wars villain
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A "supergiant" sea bug that was discovered in Vietnam bears an uncanny resemblance to a Star Wars villain, according to some observers. The monster-sized isopod, that can reach a staggering 32.5cm (12.7ins) in length and weigh about about 1kg (2.2 lbs), has been named Bathynomus vaderi in honour of the shape of its head which looks strikingly similar to Darth Vader's helmet. The crustacean has only been found close to the Spratly Islands in Vietnam but more research is underway to see if the species can be found in other parts of the South China Sea.
Massive isopods such as the Bathynomus vaderi are an an expensive treat sold in seafood markets in Vietnam. After originally being sold for a low price by fishermen, they have gone on to become an expensive addition to dishes with some claiming it is tastier than lobsters.
The new species was found after Hanoi University bought four large isopods from Quy Nhơn City in March 2022, The Express reports. Two specimens were sent to Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in the National University of Singapore to carry out a more thorough study.
Peter Ng, an expert who works in a crustacean laboratory, teamed up with colleagues to study the isopods and learned they were a not-yet discovered species. Writing in journal ZooKeys, researchers described how diners had waited up to a month to get a hold of the isopods in Hanoi.
The team wrote in the journal: "Today, some seafood markets in Hanoi, Hồ Chí Minh City, and Đà Nẵng City keep up to 30 individuals in their chilled water tanks for customers to buy. Individuals weighing between 0.6–0.9kg (1.3-1.9lbs) are the best sellers because the price is more affordable. Large specimens in excess of 2kg (4.4lbs) are also sought after as they are less common, and their size makes for an impressive dish.”.
