The internet names a new deep-sea species of chiton
The Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA), in partnership with the scientific publisher Pensoft Publishers and science YouTuber Ze Frank, have let the internet name a newly discovered deep‑sea chiton (a type of marine ...
From over 8,000 name suggestions submitted via social media, the research team responsible for describing the species selected the name Ferreiraella populi. The specific epithet populi is a Latin singular noun in the genitive case, meaning "of the people." Curiously, the name was independently suggested by 11 different contributors during the naming contest.
From a YouTube video to taxonomy
It all began when Ze Frank featured the rare deep‑sea chiton (genus Ferreiraella) in an episode of his "True Facts" YouTube series.
Equipped with an iron‑clad radula (a rasping tongue) and eight protective shell plates, the chiton also hosts a tiny community of worms near its tail that feed on its excrements. Everyone was invited to propose a scientific name and justification; within a week the community responded with over 8,000 name suggestions.
"We were overwhelmed by the response and the massive number of creative name suggestions," says Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart, co‑chair of SOSA at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt. "The name we chose, Ferreiraella populi, translates to "of the people."
Habitus of the newly found deep-sea chiton Ferreiraella populi. Credit: Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance