A new species discovered in the seas of Vietnam: it is a gigantic isopod crustaceanand the biologists who classified him have already coined a nickname, Darth Vader. The imaginative name, which refers to the successful Star Wars series, derives from the particular appearance of this being present in the depths of the sea. But what do we know exactly?
The new crustacean, also called “sea insect”, belongs to the genus Bathynomusof which we already know the subgroup Jamesi And Giganteusreal marine giants. Let’s talk about specimens – the Bathynomus Giganteus – which can exceed 70 cm, for 2 kg of weight, while the Jamesi It has smaller dimensions. The newcomer, named Bathynomus Vaderi – with a clear reference to Darth Vader – can reach 32 cm in length, and weigh around 1 kg. The shape of his head is very reminiscent of the helmet of the negative character from the Star Wars saga. It appears to have been spotted by some fishermen in the deep sea surrounding the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea, Vietnam.
This new crustacean was studied by Professor Peter Ng of National University of Singapore together with some colleagues. The scientists examined four specimens caught and offered for sale by fishmongers of Quy Nhơn. “I’m the biggest Star Wars fan on the team, because it’s my vintage. The first movie was in 1977, when I was young, and it was amazing”said Ng, as reported by the online portal NewScientist. com. “But we can all agree that Bathynomus’ face looks so much like Darth Vader that he simply had to be named after the Sith Lord“he added.
The Bathynomus vaderi it has now become a delicacy in Vietnam.
Before being carefully studied by marine biologists, these crustaceans of the genus Bathynomus they were considered simple commercial products and sold at generally reduced costs. Recently, with media attention, prices have risen, and sellers extol the delicate flavor of their meat.