Some scientists want to stop naming new species after public figures, especially as it can threaten an animal’s survival, but others say it can be a helpful conservation tool
, under threat from Nazi memorabilia collectors; Lady Gaga, and below, a fern gametophyte of the Gaga genus; Barack Obama and the sea slug, under threat from Nazi memorabilia collectors; Lady Gaga, and below, a fern gametophyte of the Gaga genus; Barack Obama and the sea slug
But scientists are increasingly questioning whether celebrity names really help species conservation. The debate comes amid growing controversy over historical names for plants and animals, some of which are associated with colonialism, racism and violence.was named after Harry Potter’s arch-enemy, Lord Voldemort, played by Ralph Fiennes, left, as they ‘both have a ghostly appearance and live in the shadows’.
Knapp will oversee discussions at the Madrid summit on how plant species are named. Botanists are encouraged not to name groups, or genera, of species after people unconnected to the field. One proposal before the summit is to extend that norm to the species level in an attempt to rule out future celebrity or offensive plant names.
The lead author, Katie Blake, a PhD student at Oxford University, echoed concerns about whether attention was a good thing and said more work was needed about the conservation benefits.“We do not recommend that species be commonly named after celebrities, but we do believe that eponyms could have great potential to attract attention to threatened species that are generally overlooked by the public,” she says.
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