Giant ocean-dwelling isopods are on the menu in Vietnam. Scientists discovered a new species among specimens captured for the food market, and it's a doozy.

By James WoodfordA large crustacean that lives in the sea off Vietnam has been designated as a new species and named after Darth Vader.Bathynomus vaderi is a kind of isopod, a group that also includes woodlice.

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 “supergiant” sea bug discovered in Vietnam has been named for its striking resemblance to Star Wars villain Darth Vader. The giant isopod, which can reach lengths of 32.5cm and weigh over a kilogram, was christened Bathynomus vaderi in honour of its head which is said to look like the Sith Lord’s helmet.

B. vaderi is part of the genus of giant isopods called Bathynomus, a group that can reach over 30 centimeters in length and look like overgrown versions of our terrestrial pill bugs, or woodlice. This new-to-science species takes the supersizing one step further, however, belonging to a more exclusive group nicknamed the “supergiants”.

The dark side of the ocean: a newly discovered species of giant isopod has been named after the Star Wars villain Darth Vader because of its

A new species of giant isopod, Bathynomus vaderi, has been discovered in the waters of Vietnam. This deep-sea creature, named after Darth Vader due to its helmet-like head, belongs to the “supergiants” group,