Scientists have named a new species of butterfly after the Lord of the Rings villain Sauron.
The name Saurona was chosen by experts because the black rings on the insect’s orange wings reminded them of the all-seeing eye portrayed in JRR Tolkien’s works.
The Natural History Museum in London hopes that the odd designation would raise awareness of the species and encourage more investigation.
The newly established Saurona genus now includes two butterfly species.
The group’s first members are Saurona triangular and Saurona aurigera, but many more species are likely to join them.
Dr Blanca Heurtas, curator of butterflies at the museum, chose the name. She is part of an international team that defined the new genus in a study published in the professional journal Systematic Entomology.
A group of 30 scientists from around the world have been studying the butterfly subtribe Euptychiina for over a decade.
The specialists examined over 400 different butterfly species and used improvements in DNA to uncover genetic differences as well as differences in appearance.
Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera are not the first Sauron-inspired organisms. The blazing eye of the enemy has also inspired the names of a dung beetle, a frog, and a dinosaur.
Dr. Huertas has named another butterfly genus discovered by the researchers.
Argenteria, which means “silver mine,” refers to the silver scales on its wings.
