5 Species/Fossils Named After Musicians
The old surefire sign you made it to next-level fame came when a local restaurant named a sandwich or menu item after you, but now scientists have taken their fandom to new heights.
Within the past decade, scientists have taken to naming various animals and other new species after their favorite rock stars, including Pink Floyd, whose creative powerhouse Roger Waters celebrates a birthday today (September 6.)
In honor of Waters’ birthday, here are five species/fossils named after musicians.
David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright from the band Pink Floyd on stage at “Live 8 London” in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
Pink Floyd – Synalpheus pinkfloydi
This species of shrimp was named after Pink Floyd for a very simple reason: The team of scientists was all really big Floyd fans.
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performs at Ozzfest 2016 at San Manuel Amphitheater on September 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for ABA)
Ozzy Osbourne – Dendropsophus ozzyi
What happens when scientists find a new species of frog that emits high-pitched sounds like a bat? Naturally, you name it after the Prince of Darkness.
Promotional portrait of British punk rock group The Clash, 1983. Left to right, Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, Pete Howard, and Joe Strummer (1952 – 2002). (Photo by Epic Records/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Joe Strummer – Alviniconcha strummeri
So, why was a newly discovered snail named after the late Clash frontman? Because researcher Shannon Johnson said the snail was covered in spikes and lived in “hot, acidic poison, so they’re pretty hardcore.” Can’t argue with that reasoning, can you?
David Bowie performs on stage on the third and final day of “The Nokia Isle of Wight Festival 2004” at Seaclose Park, on June 13, 2004 in Newport, UK. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images)
David Bowie – Heteropoda davidbowie
Appropriately, a spider was named in honor of Bowie, but scientists didn’t find this new species on Mars; it was found in Southeast Asia.
Mick Jagger sings as The Rolling Stones perform live at Mt Smart Stadium on November 22, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
Mick Jagger – Anomphalus jaggerius
While this fossil being named after Jagger led to a ton of “old” jokes, the reason why the hippo-like fossil was named after the Rolling Stones frontman was due to its large lips.
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
