The ocean depths have a new inhabitant that is now well-documented, after a recently discovered giant crustacean species was named after Darth Vader, the evil character from the “Star Wars” film series.
More precisely, the deep-sea isopod species was named “Bathynomus vaderi”, informs DPA, quoted by Agerpres.
The chosen name is related to its head, which resembles the helmet of the character Darth Vader, members of a team of researchers said in the journal ZooKeys on Tuesday.
Dimensions of “Bathynomus vaderi”
The crustacean is approximately 30 centimeters in length and weighs over a kilogram.
Researchers believe that these creatures – so far identified only in Vietnamese waters near the Spratly Islands – may also live in other regions of the South China Sea.
Giant isopods have become an expensive delicacy in Vietnam in recent years. These unusual marine animals are commercially caught and sold in fish markets, and some consumers say they are tastier than lobster.
Giant isopod. PHOTO capture Youtube Deep Marine Scenes
The discovery of a large species draws attention to the insufficient knowledge that people have about the deep seas, according to the study.
The authors of the study emphasized the urgent need for more research on the biodiversity of the deep sea in the context of the increasing attempts to exploit this habitat for fishing, oil and gas extractions, as well as for the extraction of some minerals.
