Butterfly species named after Sauron

[Pyan]

Butterfly species named after Lord of the Rings villain Sauron​

Experts hit on the name Saurona because the black rings on the insect's orange wings reminded them of the all-seeing eye described in JRR Tolkien's books. Wouldn't expect scientists to have such a vivid imagination, TBH...

 

[HareBrain]

They look more like the clustered eyes of a spider to me, especially turned upside down, when you also get the pale angled streaks as giant fangs.

Sheloba?

 

[CupofJoe]

The cynic in me thinks this is clickbait naming.
It is one way to raise the prominence of your little discovery written up in a minor journal.

 

[AllanR]

There's also a minour planet called Sauron List of named minor planets: S - Wikipedia

It's not unusual for scientists to name things after pop culture

Sonic hedgehog protein - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Agathidium vaderi - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[farntfar]

In Lyon there is a lorry company called Sauron.

 

[Pyan]

In Lyon there is a lorry company called Sauron.

"Right, one order of death, destruction, enslavement and evil. Loaded? Check. Paperwork in order? Check. Off you go..."
"Oh, and be careful - I hear that the Boss has got his eye on you..."

 

[Montero]

Wouldn't expect scientists to have such a vivid imagination, TBH...​

​

1. Depends on the scientist
2. It takes a vivid imagination to make connections that lead to progress.
3. Lots of creative folks like writers can also really struggle with names

 

[paranoid marvin]

They look more like the clustered eyes of a spider to me, especially turned upside down, when you also get the pale angled streaks as giant fangs.

Sheloba?

View attachment 103764

Apparently 'lob' is an archaic English name for a spider, so 'Shelob' is as simple as 'she-spider'.

 

[HareBrain]

Apparently 'lob' is an archaic English name for a spider, so 'Shelob' is as simple as 'she-spider'.

Also used in The Hobbit

Lazy lob and crazy cob
Are weaving webs to wind me
I am far more sweet than other meat
But still they cannot find me

 

[Pyan]

In Lyon there is a lorry company called Sauron.

And there's a company in India called:

 

[Montero]

Aren't spiders also cop/cob - hence cobweb?
And having looked it up, coppe is 14th century and cob is 16th century.

 

[farntfar]

Bilbo taunted the Mirkwood spiders with
Lazy Lob and Crazy Cob
among other taunts
Attercop, Tomnoddy etc
I expect they all had some old reference.

Edit.
Oh sorry. HB has already pointed this one out.