A newly-discovered, oddly-shaped spider shot to stardom this week because of its famous – if fictional – namesake.
The spider, which only measures seven millimetres in length, has a large, curly hump on it shaped like a witch’s hat which was discovered in India.
Scientists who discovered it named it Eriovixia gryffindori, after a character in the Harry Potter series – because it’s hat-like shape reminded them of the books.
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“This uniquely-shaped spider derives its name from the fabulous, sentient magical artifact, the sorting hat, owned by the (fictitious) medieval wizard Godric Gryffindor,” the paper first published in the Indian Journal of Archeology reads.
The name stems “from the powerful imagination of Ms. J.K. Rowling, wordsmith extraordinaire, as presented in her beloved series of books.”
The scientists also chose the name because they wanted to bring attention to the new critter.
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The name is “an ode from the authors, for magic lost, and found, in an effort to draw attention to the fascinating, but oft overlooked world of invertebrates, and their secret lives.”
And draw attention they did – very successfully.
Dr. Javed Ahmed, one of the authors, informed Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling of the news via Twitter.
“I’m truly honoured!” she wrote on Twitter. “Congratulations on discovering another #FantasticBeast.”
It has since gone viral, making headlines in India, the U.K. and around the world, from newspapers like the Washington Post and online news sites like Buzzfeed.
The timing couldn’t be better for this latest beast, since Rowling’s latest Potter-related work, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was released just a few weeks ago and made over $75 million (USD) opening weekend.
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