In pictures: Hollywood stars and musicians who have lent their names to the animal kingdom

Scientists find reasons to name animal species after celebrities. Here are some of them

Published: August 16, 2023 21:26 Last updated: August 17, 2023 18:04 Rajagopalan Venkataraman, Assistant Editor-Features

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As ‘Indiana Jones’, the fictional professor of archaeology, Harrison Ford would visit historical sites around the world, uncovering esoteric artefacts as part of his escapades — and evade all forms of reptiles in terror-inducing and claustrophobic underground structures. Ironically, a species of snake has now been named after the American actor who recently bid adieu to the adventure film franchise. Scientists from three countries who discovered a new species of snake in Peru have named the reptile Tachymenoides harrisonfordi, to honour the actor's efforts to animal conservation. Image Credit: AFP

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But this isn’t the first time an animal has been named after the actor, also known for the ‘Star Trek’ series. The actor also has a species of spider and ant — Calponia Harrisonfordi and Pheidole Harrisonfordi — taking after his name. We now take a look at other Hollywood stars who have given their name to members of the animal kingdom. Image Credit: AP

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'Hips don't lie', did you say? Well, that's exactly the reason a parasitic wasp, Aleiodes shakirae, got its name after the song's composer, Shakira. Scientists who discovered the species in the Andes mountain range in Ecuador, South America, found that the wasp lays its eggs inside the body of another animal. When these eggs hatch, the animal (usually a caterpillar) twists its body in such a way that it reminded the scientists of Shakira's trademark dance moves. Image Credit: Instagram/Shakira

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On stage, the Rolling Stones frontman created history of all kinds. Off it, Mick Jagger's enshrined in science, thanks to his prominent lips. Scientists studied fossils of what was named Jaggermeryx naida, a 19 million-year-old animal that resembles a hippo, and gave it that name because it could have had lips similar to that of Jagger's. Image Credit: Instagram/mickjagger

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Plinthina beyonceae, a horsefly discovered a few decades ago, but named only in 2011, got its name because of a patch of golden hairs on its shiny abdomen, according to 'Discover Wildlife'. The reason: 'Queen Bey's evergreen hit 'Bootylicious'. Image Credit: Supplied

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He's one of Hollywood's actors with the most bulked up biceps and muscles ever seen. Hence, it was a no-brainer for the scientist who discovered a fly in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Megapropodiphora arnoldi with its bulging legs. The 'Terminator' and 'Predator' star was only too happy when he got to know of the development. Image Credit: Instagram/schwarzenegger

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A marine spider, Desis bobmarleyi, was named after Bob Marley, one of the pioneers of reggae. And the connection is fairly straightforward. The spider, which can live in high tide and low tide habitats, was named after one of Marley's hits 'High Tide or Low Tide'. Image Credit: AFP

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'Titanic' and 'The Mare of Easttown' star Kate Winslet will be enshrined in textbooks of biologists after a researcher who discovered various species of beetles in Costa Rica named one of them, Agra katewinsletae. The scientists had this to say about the bug: "“Her character didn’t go down with the ship (in 'Titanic'), but we’ll not be able to say the same for this species if the rainforest is converted to pastures.” Image Credit: AP

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