Why do zoologists give new species names of famous people (6 photos)

Whether as a joke or seriously, they name ticks and spiders after pop divas and famous rockers.





There are not so few of them. Let's consider several famous “persons” from the world of insects.

Grasshoppers and spiders were named after the British TV presenter and creator of many documentaries about wildlife, David Attenborough. And recently they were joined by the butterfly Euptychia attenboroughi, also called Attenborough's black-eyed satyr.



Two satyrs: David Attenborough and a butterfly

When scientists found a new spider in Southeast Asia, they immediately named it after David Bowie - Heteropoda davidbowie. The fur on the spider's body seemed similar to the singer's hairstyle, which he wore in the 1970s.





David Bowie and the spider with the "hair"

The Ecuadorian wasp was given the name Aleiodes shakirae - in honor of the singer Shakira. Both deftly move their “fifth point”. Wasp - during the attack, Shakira - when she dances on stage.



Shakira and the wasp

When a new species of water mite was discovered in Puerto Rico, they immediately gave it the name Litarachna lopezae - in honor of Jennifer Lopez. Scientists say they listened to Lopez's songs while studying the tick, which is why they named it lopezae. But most likely the insect got its name for the similarity in roundness of its shape to the performer.



Decide for yourself which one is Jennifer Lopez

Fish and jellyfish were named after musician Frank Zappa's mustache. But the most famous animal: the orb-weaving spider, Pachygnatha zappa. He has whisker-like markings on his body.



Frank Zappa and the mustachioed spider

Some people think that zoologists just have a sense of humor. And others say that in this way scientists attract attention to their discoveries. You named a new type of tick in honor of a curvy actress - and they immediately write about you in the newspapers.