smorgas_of_borg: blog 
smorgas_of_borg's blog
what's in a name?
Published Sep. 5, 2008
Some celebrities have mountains, or cities or bridges named for them. Others, it turns out, are graced with having their names given to new species of animals as they are discovered. For your evening's dining and dancing pleasure we present the
Top Nine Critters Named For Celebrities
9. Avahi cleesei. Comedian John Cleese had this species of lemur named after him in tribute to his promotion of the plight of the primate in the film Fierce Creatures and a documentary.
8. Eristalis gatesi. This flower fly found in Costa Rica is named for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Another carries the name of co-founder Paul Allen.
7. Bufonaria borisbeckeri. This sea snail shares a name with German tennis great Boris Becker.
6. Dendropsophus stingi. The rock star Sting, who has worked to preserve rainforests, gave his moniker to this Colombian tree frog.
5. Agra katewinsletae. Titanic actress Kate Winslet had this beetle named for her.
4. Cryptocercus garciai. A cockroach named for Grateful Dead icon, Jerry Garcia.
3. Sylvilagus palustris hefneri. An endangered marsh rabbit named for Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy magazine with its famous bunny logo.
2. Avalanchurus lennoni. John Lennon doesn't have a beetle named for him as you might expect. Instead, the famous Beatle has prehistoric trilobites, as does Ringo Starr.
And, drum roll please...
1. Agathidium bushi. A slime-mold beetle honoring President George W. Bush. Other slime-mold beetles were named for Vice President Dick Cheney and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Image credit: Drawing by Frances Fawcett, Ithaca, NY., Used by permission, Cornell University
close6 Comments
(16 votes) two marines accused of shooting horse
(14 votes) gunman shoots raleigh pizza parlor employee
(13 votes) gas prices getting pumped up again
(10 votes) big-money bash set for perdue's birthday
(6 votes) repaving i-795 could cost up to $22m
Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.
GOLO member since October 17, 2007
September 5, 2008 8:09 p.m.
I remember that cartoon.
I truly enjoyed his work. His depiction of ‘technical sorts’ hits just close enough to home to be funny.
STS
GOLO member since June 7, 2008
September 5, 2008 7:37 p.m.
GOLO member since July 15, 2007
September 5, 2008 7:33 p.m.
Strigiphilus garylarsoni: a biting louse – found on owls.
Serratoterga larsoni: an Ecuadorian rain forest butterfly.
Garylarsonus: a type of beetle.
BTW, only Southerners really know the difference between the ‘critters’ and the ‘varmints’ ....
STS
GOLO member since June 7, 2008
September 5, 2008 7:28 p.m.
lol
September 5, 2008 7:22 p.m.
GOLO member since August 23, 2007
September 5, 2008 7:12 p.m.
Please log in to add comment.