The impressive size of B. vaderi makes it one of the world's largest isopods, but it is still dwarfed by the largest known Bathynomus, which measures more than 19 inches.

Weighing over a kilogram, giant isopods like B. vaderi are an example of deep-sea gigantism – a tendency for animals that dwell in the deep to grow larger than their shallow water cousins.

Thousands of meters below the ocean's surface lurk some gigantic creatures, much larger than their shallow-water brethren.

Bathynomus isopods are divided into two size-based groups, researchers said. Giant species are 5.9 inches or shorter, while supergiants are anything greater than 6.7 inches long.

Surprisingly, these nightmare-inducing sea bugs are becoming a delicacy in Vietnam. Often compared to lobster, giant isopods like B. vaderi are highly sought after in local markets.

A new species of giant isopod, Bathynomus vaderi, has been discovered in the waters of Vietnam. This deep-sea creature, named after Darth Vader due to its helmet-like head, belongs to the ...

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son holding a giant specimen of another species of giant isopod found in Vietnam (B. jamesi) that weighed 2.62 kg from a seafood market in Hanoi, October 2024.

What has 14 legs, lives at the bottom of the sea, and looks like Darth Vader? It's a newly discovered species of supergiant isopod, and should you happen to be in Vietnam sometime soon, you can ...

The discovery of Bathynomus vaderi began when researchers at Hanoi University purchased four giant isopods in Vietnam's Quy Nhơn City back in early 2022. They sent two of them to National ...

Nguyen Thanh Son holding a giant specimen of another species of giant isopod found in Vietnam (Bathynomus jamesi) that weighed 2.62 kg [5.7 pounds] from a seafood market in Hanoi, October 2024.

Researchers Identified a New ‘Supergiant’ Crustacean With 14 Legs—and They Named It After Darth Vader In recent years, the deep-sea giant isopod has also become a seafood delicacy in Vietnam ...