A recently discovered butterfly was named after JRR Tolkien’s ultimate baddy, Sauron. While the antagonist in The Lord of the Rings is one of the best villains ever to jump off the pages of a book and into a movie, the butterfly was called after him due to its colors resembling the Eye of Sauron.
A Butterfly Named Saurona
Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the butterfly possessed an intriguing pattern on its wings. The orange hue dominated its delicate wingspan, radiating a warm and captivating glow. Dark spots adorned the vibrant canvas, resembling the all-seeing Eye of Sauron. So, the scientists who marveled at the butterfly were quick to call it after Middle Earth’s Dark Lord. It was ultimately named Saurona and is one of several new butterflies that an international team of researchers discovered and described in a new scientific paper. Its name was officially given by Senior Curator of Butterflies Blanca Huertas from London’s Natural History Museum.
Orange Wings With Dark Spots
According to Dr. Huertas, giving these butterflies this unusual name was going to draw more attention to their under-appreciated group. She also mentioned that naming a genus was not something that happened very often and said it was an honor for her to name the newly discovered species.
The butterfly was largely called Saurona because it has orange wings with dark spots. The scientists immediately thought of the Eye of Sauron’s representation in the Peter Jackson movies, based on Tolkien’s classic fantasy epic. That’s how the insect was given the moniker of Sauron. The parallel between this newly discovered butterfly and Tolkien’s notorious antagonist sparked a wave of fascination among enthusiasts and researchers. Saurona swiftly became the center of attention, drawing curious minds to explore the enigmatic world of butterflies. It was a chance for these often overlooked creatures to claim their rightful place in the limelight.