A team of scientists discovered a new species of giant isopod in the deep waters near Vietnam's Spratly Islands and named it Bathynomus vaderi, in honor of the iconic helmet worn by Darth Vader from Star Wars. The research group from the National University of Singapore, led by Peter Ng, identified the species and published their findings in the journal ZooKeys, according to Live Science.
"The head of Bathynomus vaderi bears a striking resemblance to the iconic helmet of Darth Vader from Star Wars," the research team noted, as cited by The Sun. This distinct feature led to its name, continuing the trend of scientists naming new species after figures from popular culture.
In addition to its scientific significance, Bathynomus vaderi has gained popularity in Vietnam as an expensive delicacy. Live specimens are available in markets in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, according to Live Science. Some people claim that Bathynomus vaderi tastes better than lobsters, which are known as the "king of seafood," reported The Sun.
Media attention and social media influencers have increased public interest and demand for Bathynomus vaderi as a unique seafood, further fueling its increasing sale in markets, stated The Sun. Some establishments and restaurants in Vietnam advertise the sale of giant isopods, referred to as "marine insects" or "sea bugs," on social media, including instructions on how to cook them and their best recipes, according to El Mundo.
Until about 2017, Bathynomus were mainly considered bycatch for fishermen in Southeast Asia, sold at very low prices. Since then, they have become a culinary hit in Vietnam, reported Tech. Within the last five years, the trendy dish has spread to the capital Hanoi and other cities, as noted by The Sun.
Commercial fishermen are now hauling giant isopods from the sea to meet demand. They are being commercially fished by trawlers in various deep-water areas of Vietnam, including offshore near the provinces of central-southern Vietnam, according to El Tiempo. The sustainable catch of giant isopods like Bathynomus vaderi poses significant challenges amid increasing exploitation of deep-sea resources, but it could also lead to stricter regulations and sustainable practices in deep-sea fishing, as mentioned by Live Science.
Bathynomus vaderi belongs to the genus Bathynomus, which includes giant isopods abundant in cold, deep waters. Measuring up to 32.5 centimeters in length and weighing over one kilogram, it is one of the largest known isopods, making it 20 times larger than a common woodlouse, reported The Sun. The team described Bathynomus vaderi’s pronounced depression in its hip bone and a unique bony ridge protruding from its coracoid bone, distinguishing it from other supergiant isopods, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine.
The new species was discovered when researchers examined samples caught by local fishers near the Spratly Islands. Bathynomus vaderi has only been found in this area so far, but researchers believe it can also be found in other parts of the South China Sea, as noted by El Mundo. Future research is expected to confirm its presence in these areas, reported The Sun.
Peter Ng has a very active crustacean laboratory in Singapore and has worked on the deep-sea fauna of many parts of Asia. During their examination, Peter Ng and Conni Sidabalok, with the help of Nguyen Thanh Son from the National University of Vietnam, discovered the new species Bathynomus vaderi, according to El Mundo.
Giant isopods like Bathynomus vaderi play a crucial role in the ecosystem as scavengers, feeding on remains of dead sea creatures, noted Asharq News. They are perfectly adapted to the extreme conditions on the ocean floor due to their robust armor, as reported by Scientias. Their ability to survive without food has been documented for more than five years in captivity.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.