A newly identified giant isopod has been named after the iconic character Darth Vader from Star Wars, drawing inspiration from his well-known helmet shape. This extraordinary marine creature, measuring 32.5 cm, was discovered off the coast of Vietnam.
Giant isopods under the genus Bathynomus, which can surpass 30 cm in length, are referred to as bọ biển or “sea bugs” in Vietnam. For the first time, a species from this group has been described in Vietnamese waters, specifically named Bathynomus vaderi. The name “vaderi” was chosen due to its head’s resemblance to Darth Vader’s memorable helmet, the renowned Sith Lord from Star Wars.
Bathynomus vaderi is categorized among the “supergiant” isopods, with lengths reaching up to 32.5 cm and weights exceeding one kilogram. Currently, this new species has only been recorded near the Spratly Islands in Vietnam, but additional studies are likely to establish its presence in other areas of the South China Sea.
In Vietnam, giant isopods like Bathynomus vaderi have turned into a costly delicacy. Before 2017, they were typically sold at low prices by local fishermen as bycatch. However, in recent years, media coverage has elevated public interest in this unique seafood, with some even claiming it to be tastier than lobster, often regarded as the “king of seafood.”
Commercial fishing of these creatures has been conducted by trawlers in several deep areas of Biển Đông (East Sea, the Vietnamese part of the South China Sea) and along the southern-central coast of Vietnam. Over the past five years, it has become common to see them sold alive in seafood markets located in Hanoi, Hồ Chí Minh City, and Đà Nẵng City. Additionally, some restaurants and vendors promote the sale of these “sea bugs” on various social media platforms, sharing tips on the best ways to prepare them!
In March 2022, researchers from Hanoi University acquired four giant isopods from Quy Nhơn City, sending two specimens to Peter Ng at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in Singapore for classification. Ng, an expert in crustaceans, collaborates with Conni M. Sidabalok from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, who had previously described Bathynomus species from southern Java. Together with Nguyen Thanh Son from Vietnam National University, they investigated the specimens and realized in early 2023 that they had discovered a previously unknown species. Their findings have now been published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
The identification of such an unusual species as Bathynomus vaderi in Vietnam serves as a reminder of our limited understanding of the deep-sea ecosystem. The fact that a creature of this size could remain undiscovered for so long emphasizes the ongoing need to explore and comprehend the biodiversity present in Southeast Asian waters.
As human activities increasingly target deep-sea resources for fishing, oil, gas, and minerals, it is essential to enhance our understanding of marine biodiversity. Sustainable fishing practices for giant isopods further complicate these challenges. The initial step in addressing this issue is identifying the various species that inhabit these depths.
