A newly discovered giant isopod off Vietnam has been named Bathynomus vaderi, resembling Darth Vader’s helmet and weighing as much as a guinea pig.

Vietnam: You won’t believe what scientists found! They discovered a massive sea bug that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie.
This giant isopod, named Bathynomus vaderi, was found off the coast of Vietnam. It’s so big that it looks like something out of an AI program.
Measuring 12.8 inches long and weighing about 2.2 pounds, it’s like a little guinea pig swimming around in the ocean.
Researchers from Hanoi University stumbled upon this creature at a seafood market in Quy Nhơn City. They teamed up with scientists from Singapore to figure out what they had found.
Turns out, this is a brand-new species! They think it might live in other parts of the South China Sea, too.
People in Asia actually eat giant isopods, treating them like a fancy seafood dish. They’re sold live at markets, and some restaurants serve them in ramen for a hefty price.
While this new species is impressive, it’s not the biggest. That title goes to another isopod that can grow up to 20 inches long!