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August 10, 2009
Species named after famous people
Thousands of new species are identified each year, and each and every one of them needs a name. As a general rule, the scientist who discovers a new species gets to name it, and the names are often inspired by someone the scientist knows...a spouse or lover, an influential teacher, a relative, and sometimes a celebrity.
That's why we've ended up with a lichen named after Barack Obama, a slime-mold beetle named after George Bush, a lemur named after John Cleese, and...wait for it...a sub-species of bunny named for Hugh Hefner. Pictured above is Agra katewinsletae, a ground beetle named for actress Kate Winslet.
Popular Mechanics' website has a bunch more.
Posted by Chris Spurgeon at August 10, 2009 10:05 PM