Head of Batinomus Vaderi, Newly named marine isopod
Nguyen Thanh Son
A new species of large crustacean found off the coast of Vietnam has been named after Darth Vader.
Batinomus Vaderi It is a type of isopod, a group that also includes woodlice. The body length can be 30 centimeters and the weight can exceed 1 kilogram.
So far, the new species has only been discovered by fishermen trawling near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Peter Ng Professors from the National University of Singapore analyzed four specimens obtained from a fish store in Quy Nhon, in south-central Vietnam. Locals call them “sea worms”.
Researcher Peter Ng investigates giant isopods at a seafood market in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Nguyen Thanh Son
Ng said the researchers chose this name for the species not only because of its resemblance to Darth Vader’s mask, but also because the creature lives in constant darkness at depths of 800 to 1,200 meters. This is also because it is believed that
“I’m the biggest star wars It’s my vintage so I’m a fan of the team. The first movie was in 1977, during my youth, and it was really cool,” Ng says. “But we all know that face batinomus He looks so much like Darth Vader that they had to name him after the Sith Lord. ”
The isopod has been a popular seafood delicacy in Vietnamese restaurants since 2017, and is said to be as delicious as lobster.
However, little is known about their ecology and how trawling affects their populations, team members say. Koni Sidaba Rock At the National Research and Innovation Agency in Cibinong, Indonesia.
“The size of the harvest is a concern. This is a challenge for all the deep-sea fish we fish,” she says. “Little is known about their ecology, so further research is needed to assess how best to conserve and manage this resource.”
topic:
Source: www.newscientist.com
