Did you know that a newly discovered group of butterflies has been named after a notorious villain from the Lord of the Rings novels? Dubbed the Butterfly Saurona by scientists at the Natural History Museum in London. These butterflies resemble Sauron’s all-seeing eye, prompting the unique name.
Let’s explore this fascinating discovery and learn more about these captivating creatures.
Key Points
- A new group of butterflies got their name after the character Sauron from Lord of the Rings. Due to the black rings on their orange wings resembling the all-seeing eye.
- The Natural History Museum in London hopes that the unique name, Saurona, will draw attention to the species and promote further research.
The Butterfly Saurona
A newly discovered group of butterflies got their name from the infamous character Sauron from JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings novels. The black rings on the wings of the butterfly bear a resemblance to the all-seeing eye that is synonymous with Sauron.
The Natural History Museum in London hopes that the unique name, Saurona, will generate more interest in the species and promote further research.
The inaugural members of the Saurona genus are Saurona triangular and Saurona aurigera. There are more species expected to be added in the future.
The name of the genus was decided by Dr. Blanca Heurtas, curator of the butterflies at the museum. Who was part of an international team that described the new genus in the scientific journal Systematic Entomology.
The team of 30 scientists spent a decade studying the butterfly subtribe Euptychiina. Analyzing more than 400 species using DNA and physical characteristics to differentiate between them.
Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera are not the first creatures to be get their name after Sauron. The villain’s glowing eye has also inspired a dung beetle, a frog, and a dinosaur’s name.
Additionally, the team has discovered another butterfly genus named Argenteria, meaning silver mine, due to the silver scales on its wings.
The Naming Process
Did you know that some butterflies, beetles, and even a dinosaur have been named after the villain Sauron from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” series?
It might seem like a frivolous endeavour, but naming animals after fictional characters can actually be a great way to bring attention to them.
In fact, three Australian beetles were named after Pokémon to raise awareness and conservation funding after devastating wildfires.
But naming species after characters isn’t just for fun – it can also aid in scientific research. For example, a group of butterflies called Euptychiina has been notoriously difficult to study because of their similar appearance.
However, new DNA sequencing techniques allowed researchers to identify and describe nine new genera of Euptychiina, including one named Argenteria after the silver scales on its wings.
With better knowledge of these species, scientists can work to protect them from extinction.
So, the next time you come across a butterfly with an unusual name, remember that there’s more to it than just a nod to pop culture – it’s an important part of scientific discovery and conservation efforts.
The Summary
Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London have discovered a new butterfly genus named “Saurona”. The name is after the villain Sauron from Lord of the Rings. These butterflies have black rings on their orange wings that resemble the all-seeing eye.
The unique name is to generate interest and promote research; more species are to join the group.
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