| Bathynomus vaderi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Isopoda |
| Family: | Cirolanidae |
| Genus: | Bathynomus |
| Species: | B. vaderi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Bathynomus vaderi Ng, Sidabalok & Nguyen, 2025
| |
Bathynomus vaderi is a species of giant isopod found in the South China Sea off the coast of Vietnam near the Spratly Islands. The species is named after the Star Wars character Darth Vader because of its facial structure resembling the character's helmet. The species was identified after researchers obtained numerous giant isopods from fishermen. Bathynomus vaderi can be up to 12.8 inches (0.325 m) in length and 2.2 pounds (0.997 kg) in weight, and is one of the largest known species of isopods. The species is predicted to have a similar habitat to the other giant isopod species Bathynomus jamesi.
References
- ^ Schotte M, Boyko CB, Bruce NL, Poore GC, Taiti S, Wilson GD (eds.). "Bathynomus vaderi Ng, Sidabalok & Nguyen, 2025". World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans Database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ a b Ng, Peter K. L.; Sidabalok, Conni M.; Nguyen, Thanh Son (14 January 2025). "A new species of supergiant Bathynomus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from Vietnam, with notes on the taxonomy of Bathynomus jamesi Kou, Chen & Li, 2017". ZooKeys (1223): 289–310. Bibcode:2025ZooK.1223..289N. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1223.139335. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 11751684. PMID 39845498.
- ^ Bassi, Margherita (27 January 2025). "Researchers Identified a New 'Supergiant' Crustacean With 14 Legs—and They Named It After Darth Vader". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ a b Bragg, Julianna (17 January 2025). "Giant 'Darth Vader' sea bug discovered off the coast of Vietnam". CNN. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ Lagatta, Eric (23 January 2025). "Newly-discovered giant sea bug resembling Darth Vader isn't as scary as it looks". USA TODAY. Retrieved 28 January 2025.