Scientists have discovered this absolutely terrifying giant ‘sea cockroach’
Researchers from the National University of Singapore came across a quite the discovery during a marine survey off the coast of Indonesia. A giant 'sea cockroach' with 14-legs and look that will send shivers down your spine.
Falling under the isopod category thiscockroach looking creature is actually a closely related to crustaceans like shrimp and crab.
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The find was made during the 2018 joint Singapore-Indonesia South Java Deep-Sea Expedition (SJADES). During the expedition over 12,000deep-seaspecimens were collected this giant 'sea cockroach' being one of them.
More under this adMore under this adDubbed Bathynomus raksasa thedeep-sea giant isopods can grow up to 20 inches in length while most other deep-sea isopods don't exceed 10 millimetres. The creature has also been attracting a lot of social media attention amassing reactions from curiosity to disgust. Some have even compared it to looking like Darth Vader from Star Wars.
More under this adMore under this adLadies and gentlemen, may I present the Darth Vader sea cockroach. Somehow I knew he’d return as vermin.
— Mara Jade Skywalker (@MasterJediMara) July 17, 2020
Impressive. #StarWars#DarthVaderpic.twitter.com/uekUPvksmw
This wasn't the only discovery made on the expedition. Researchers also managed to classify 11 new species including new species of shrimps, crabs and lobsters.
More under this adMore under this adThere are only 20 different species of giant isopods with the Bathynomus raksasa being the newest addition to the list. It seems as though every time scientists go looking, they seem to find something new... just goes to show how little we know about our own oceans. Wonder what they'll find next time!
More under this adMore under this adCheck out the video above to see pictures of some of the other new species discovered on the expedition.