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Large Isopod species
With two pairs of antennae, large compound eyes, and four sets of jaws, giant isopods look like creatures from a science fiction movie. Now, researchers have discovered a new "supergiant" isopod species with a head strikingly similar to Darth Vader’s helmet. In a nod to the iconic Star Wars villain, they have named it Bathynomus vaderi (B. vaderi). -
Concern of Isopod species
The researchers published their findings in the journal ZooKeys on January 14, 2025. They worry that increased demand for giant isopods as seafood could threaten their populations. These creatures lay few eggs and grow slowly. If their popularity keeps rising, they could vanish.