New species alert: Scientists discover giant deep-sea isopod family in Gulf of Mexico - USA TODAY

Identified as Bathonymus yucatanensis, the newly discovered species joins the nearly 20 living Bathonymus species. .

A group of Taiwanese, Japanese and Australians researchers discovered the new species in the Gulf of Mexico and published its findings Tuesday in the Journal of Natural History.

Its unique body proportions and color distinguished the species from others when it was collected off the Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico, researcher said.

Although the species was just discovered, it had been  mistaken as another Bathonymus species, B.

giganteus, researchers said.

yucatanensis, noting that the two species may have had a common ancestor

There could be more undiscovered Bathynomus species in the tropical western Atlantic area, researchers said, noting that such revelations are crucial to the fishing industry