New insect named after Tolkien character
09/01/2007
Spanish scientists have discovered a new invertebrate insect in certain caves of Castellon province, which they have baptized Gollumjapyx Smeagol in honour of JRR Tolkien who created the character in his 'The Lord of The Rings' trilogy.
The new animal is of exterior origin, but has adapted to permanent living inside caves. The new invertebrate has all the properties of a subterranean insect: its skin has no pigment, and it has extraordinarily large antennae, six feet and measures two centimeters in length.
According to Vicente Ortuño, the first examples of this new species were found some 25 years ago, but the recent investigations undertaken in caves in the provinces of Castellon and Tarragona have enabled more data to be compiled.
Professor Ortuño added that there was a certain tradition to name subterranean species after mythological characters, "but in this case we referred to modern mythology."
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Spanish scientists have discovered a new invertebrate insect in certain caves of Castellon province, which they have baptized Gollumjapyx Smeagol in honour of JRR Tolkien who created the character in his 'The Lord of The Rings' trilogy.
The new animal is of exterior origin, but has adapted to permanent living inside caves. The new invertebrate has all the properties of a subterranean insect: its skin has no pigment, and it has extraordinarily large antennae, six feet and measures two centimeters in length.
According to Vicente Ortuño, the first examples of this new species were found some 25 years ago, but the recent investigations undertaken in caves in the provinces of Castellon and Tarragona have enabled more data to be compiled.
Professor Ortuño added that there was a certain tradition to name subterranean species after mythological characters, "but in this case we referred to modern mythology."