Game of Thrones finally returns to screens this AprilOpens in a new tab after a nearly two-year hiatus, much to the joy of fans everywhere. But also to their sadness, as the upcoming eighth season will also be the show’s last. But that doesn’t mean Thrones won’t occupy pop culture conversations for eons to come. Now it’s even making waves in the science world.University of Nebraska entomologist and professor Bret Ratcliffe recently namedOpens in a new tab three new species of beetle after the dragons on Game of Thrones: drogoni, rhaegali and viserioni, the Latinized versions of DaenerysOpens in a new tab‘s dragons, Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.
“I’ve often thought that scientists take themselves too seriously,” says Nebraska entomologist. So he named three new beetle species after dragons from “Game of Thrones.” https://t.co/HgHFNF93zwOpens in a new tab
— AP Central U.S. (@APCentralRegion) December 30, 2018Opens in a new tab
All three beetles are from the genus Gymnetis and have orange features that evoke dragon fire. Drogoni and viserioni can be foundOpens in a new tab in Colombia and Ecuador, while rhaegali is found in French Guiana. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Ratcliffe is a fan of the showOpens in a new tab, but also chose the names as a way of “drawing attention to biodiversity and the huge amount of undiscovered species.”“When you create names like these, you do it to gain a little bit of notoriety and bring public attention to it,†Ratcliffe told the World-HeraldOpens in a new tab. “We’re still discovering life on Earth. One of every four living things on Earth is a beetle. We haven’t discovered them all. We’re not even close.â€That means there are plenty of opportunities for even more Thrones-inspired beetle names. Maybe direwolf beetles are next? A beetle named after the Night King? The possibilities are endless!
Image: HBO
