SMART NEWS

This Sea Slug Was Just Named After a Game of Thrones Character

There’s a Stephen Colbert beetle, a Lady Gaga genus of plant, and a Beyonce bee. And now, a Game of Thrones slug

Contributor

December 20, 2013

Species are named after celebrities and cultural icons all the time. There's a Stephen Colbert beetle, a Lady Gaga genus of plant, and a Beyonce bee. And now, there's a Game of Thrones slug.

The new species's latin name is Tritonia khaleesi, named after the Game of Thrones character Daenerys of House Targaryen. Her many titles include: First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Realm, Mhysa, Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms, Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains, and (here's where the Latin name comes from) Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea. In the paper describing this new slug, the researchers write that it has "a slender white body, of which the notum is covered with one broad white band extending from between the eyes and veil to the tail."

Researcher Felipe Vasconcelos told the site PapelPop that this white band reminded him of Daenerys's braids. Plus, he said, this little slug is one of the smallest, newest sea slugs, much like Khaleesi in the show. Only time will tell whether or not this little slug can break chains or birth dragons.