A purchase at an urban Vietnamese fish market turned out to be a whole new species of giant isopod –with a bit of a dark side. The foot-long crustacean has been named Bathynomus vaderi and sports a head that resembles the iconic helmet of Darth Vader from the Star Wars.

Scientists have discovered a new species of crustacean after examining samples purchased from Vietnamese fishermen. Because its head resembles the famous helmet of Darth Vader from Star Wars, it has been named in honor of the Sith Lord.

A marine crustacean that looks like Darth Vader’s helmet has been recognised as a new species, but it could be under threat from trawling due to its popularity in Vietnamese restaurants