#  For Fun! 

 



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



 

 

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



 

 

 

       ![octopus](/sites/g/files/omnuum11251/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/imls/files/octopus_slide_0.jpg?itok=5KKsD430) 

 

 



 

 



 

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###    Videos From the Exhibit  expand\_more  

 

**Videos from the "What's in a Name?" exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History**

[What am I?: I might not be who you think I am…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXcBotzjscA&feature=youtu.be)

[I’m Your Type: What does it mean to be a “type” specimen?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvdcOIweZOc&feature=youtu.be)

[Striking Sail](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia62KiWzbTw&feature=youtu.be)



 

 

 



###    More Videos!  expand\_more  

 

Click on the links below for more videos about naming species:

[Auburn professor​ discovers catfish species, names it for Star Wars character](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnZXQB6NcKk)

[Duke University Biologist Names 19 Species of Ferns for Lady Gaga](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1g8DASNrbE)

[Science Today: What's in a Name | California Academy of Sciences](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpWBLNx2b1w)



 

 

 



###    Learn More  expand\_more  

 

**Read More**

[Naming a New Species](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/naming-a-new-species-51245769/?no-ist)

[How Newly Discovered Species Get Their Names](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2016/01/how_newly_discovered_species_get_names_from_taxonomists.html)

[What’s in a Scientific Name?](http://animaldiversity.org/animal_names/scientific_name/)

[How are Species Named?](http://eol.org/info/naming_species)



 

 

 



 

 

 

 

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.