Do Scientists Ever Name Creatures After People They Dislike Out of Spite?

If you've been reading Neatorama for some time, you are familiar with the many new species of living things that are named after celebrities, friends of scientists, and even fictional characters. When a scientist discovers, studies, and publishes a description of a new species, they get the naming rights, although they have to follow a few rules from the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, like not being offensive. Scientists, particularly those who've named a lot of species, often go out of their way to honor someone they admire with a new species name. But are these names ever intended to be an insult? That depends on your point of view.

For example, consider the curious case of, Baracktrema obamai, the official scientific name of a type of parasitic flatworm that lives in the blood of Asian box turtles.

Now, when it was first reported that parasitologist Thomas Platt had chosen this name for the parasite, it was framed by some in the press as a deliberate, knowing jab at the then president. However, Platt would later clarify that he intended for the gesture to be an honest compliment to Obama, noting that the creature reminded him of the president because – “It’s long. It’s thin. And it’s cool as hell.”

Parasitologists, as well as other specialized biologists, tend to see beauty in their subjects, even when most of us don't. Read the stories behind some wonderful species names like Crikey steveirwini, Scaptia beyonceae, Neopalpa donaldtrumpi (pictured), and more at Today I Found Out. While some may seem like insults, there's only one bona fide case of disrespect in species nomenclature.  

(Image credit: Dr. Vazrick Nazari)


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