For Fun!

Species are often named for how they look, and after famous people or characters in popular culture.

  • octopus

    Wonderpus Octopus, Wunderpus photogenicus, an octopus named for its beauty.

  • Mandelia mirocornata, a nudibranch named for Nelson Mandela.

  • Two halves of a light pink sponge.

    Spongiforma squarepantsii, a fungus, named for the cartoon character "Sponge Bob Squarepants."

  • Two bright pink four petal flower.

    Clematis Princess Diana, a flower named for Diana, Princess of Wales.

Slideshow Image Credits

Wonderpus Octopus,Wunderpus photogenicus.Credit: Mark Rosenstein,iNaturalist.org. CC BY-NC-SA; Mandelia mirocornata.Credit: Wilhelm, Flickr. CC BY 2.0; Spongiforma squarepantsii. Credit: Tom Bruns, Mushroom Observer. CC BY-SA 3.0; Clematis Princess Diana.Credit AC, Wikimedia. CC BY 2.0.