Pop cultural references in scientific names??
I heard that a species of rabbit was named after Hugh Hefner. Playboy but miss, rabbits, Hefner, get it???
I heard that some astronomers wanted to name an asteroid after Trayvon Martin. Not sure if that ever happened or if that effort flamed out.
Should read Playboy bunnies, rabbits, ties in with Hefner
Top 10 Species Named After Famous People
1. Barack Obama – Aptostichus barackobamai (The Barack Obama trapdoor spider), endemic to California.
2. Hugh Heffner – Sylvilagus palustris hefneri (Lower Keys marsh rabbit), an endangered subspecies of marsh rabbit
3. Greta Garbo – Rostropria garbo, a diapriid wasp.
4. Johnny Depp – Kootenichela deppi, extinct anthropod.
5. Bob Marley – Gnathia marleyi parasite of the Crustacea family, found only in the Caribean sea.
6. Confucius – Potanthus confucius (Chinese dart or Confucian dart) butterfly native to southeastern Asia
7. Mark Knopfler – Masiakasaurus knopfleri, theropod dinosaur
8. Madonna – Echiniscus madonnae, water bear also known as moss piglets
9. Shakira – Aleiodes shakirae, a species of parasitic wasp
10. Theodore Roosevelt – Cervus canadensis roosevelti (Olympic elk)
Many geological features on planets are named after star Trek or other sci-fi references. You fast run out of other names any other way.
Same with animals. Honestly lots of animal names are pretty lackluster.
Yeah, it got shot down...