New supergiant 'Darth Vader' sea bug discovered in South China Sea — and it's absolutely massive

https://www.livescience.com/animals/crustaceans/new-supergiant-darth-vader-sea-bug-discovered-in-south-china-sea-and-its-absolutely-massive

Scientists have discovered a never-before-seen giant sea bug after studying samples purchased from fishers in Vietnam.

Bathynomus vaderi belongs to the genus Bathynomus — giant isopods that are abundant in cold, deep waters. It is a "supergiant," weighing over 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) and growing up to 12.8 inches (32.5 centimeters) long, making it one of the largest known isopods.

The species is named "vaderi" because its head resembles Darth Vader's iconic helmet from "Star Wars."

...

The researchers noted that Bathynomus species have recently become a delicacy in Vietnam, often compared to lobster. The local demand has turned these sea bugs into an expensive staple of the live-seafood market, leading to increased fishing pressures in the region.

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95 points · 22 comments · view on lemmy.world

22 Comments

steal_your_face@lemmy.ml · 28 pts · 1y (5 replies)

Pic in comparison to human hands

bassomitron@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 1y (3 replies)

That is nightmare fuel for me

bigFab@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 1y (2 replies)

njm1314@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Is it just me or does that dude have super big hands?

Khrux@ttrpg.network · 2 pts · 1y

I think he's holding it deceptively far from his body to make it look bigger, and it's having the same effect on his hands.

m4xie@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 1y

It's like the fast food place in The Emperor's New Groove!

474D@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 1y (3 replies)

"super giant" ... "2 pounds" ... Look guys, we're in the climate change era of doom, if you wanna use buzzwords like that, we want straight up Cthulhu

MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net · 30 pts · 1y (2 replies)

places a foot-long, 2-pound bug on your head

474D@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 1y

Ok not like that

Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 1y

If it wants what's in there, let that stupid big bug at it.

Or maybe it's like a cat and it's starts making biscuits (and purring).
Awww, cute.

makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml · 15 pts · 1y (2 replies)

But, does it taste good?!

BigTrout75@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 1y

They're eating them!

Thcdenton@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1y

Anythings good when cooked cajun style

smeg@feddit.uk · 12 pts · 1y (2 replies)

The species is named "vaderi" because its head resembles Darth Vader's iconic helmet from "Star Wars."

Does it though?

Diddlydee@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 1y

No. It does not. At all.

Dkarma@lemmy.world · -2 pts · 1y

Disney dorks are so fucking pathetic and irritating

Zip2@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 1y (1 reply)
[ removed ]
Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 1y

As teenagers usually up to 6 (depending on the local jedi supply), but as they grow they usually stop playing with such toys bcs they look silly in their Godzilla-sized leggies.

TheOneAndOnly@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y

Everyone here freaking out, take a hard look at this next to a lobster and tell me what makes them so different? They'll be importing these to Saudi Arabia, covering them in gold leaf, and serving them to idiot billionaires for ridiculous money as a "delicacy" any moment... If it's not already happening.

guiguinofake@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Goddammit we need to burn the oceans now

Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 8 pts · 1y (1 reply)

We are doing that as fast as humanly possible, it's a global coordinated effort by the whole species.
Don't you follow the news & are you not doing your part?

We far outevil some wet bugs.

guiguinofake@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 1y

We're boiling them off not burning them.

Emperor@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 1y

Obligatory mention of The Bay.