Looks like Darth Vader: a giant sea bug was discovered in the South China Sea. Photo

A new supergiant sea bug has been discovered in the South China Sea. Visually, it is very similar to Darth Vader, the central character of the "Star Wars" movie epic, as well as the entire fictional universe of the same name.

Scientists named it Vaderi because it resembled the iconic helmet from the popular movie. Live Science writes that the newly discovered bug belongs to the genus Bathynomus, a giant, equipedal mollusk that is abundant in cold, deep waters.

It turned out to be one of the largest isopods known – it weighs more than 1 kilogram and can be up to 32.5 centimeters long.

To study the newly discovered mollusk, the team examined specimens caught by local fishermen and found that they have distinctive physical features. The scientists described a pronounced depression in the femur of B. vaderi and a unique bone ridge protruding from the coracoid bone that distinguishes it from other supergiant isopods.

The researchers noted that Bathynomus species have recently become a delicacy in Vietnam, often compared to lobster. Local demand has turned these sea beetles into an expensive product in the live seafood market, leading to increased pressure on fishing in the region. According to the researchers, this commercial interest creates both opportunities and challenges. The fast-growing market could threaten giant isopods, but it could also pave the way for stricter regulations and environmental practices in deep-sea fishing.

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