Science

More Species Should Have Awesome Names Like Rasberry Crazy Ant

Most animals have normal names: duck, cat, horse. But sometimes people come across a creature and decide to get fanciful. Hence the blobfish, the hellbender, the chicken turtle, and the Rasberry crazy ant – which was identified for the first time today as the species Nylanderia fulva in a paper in PLOS ONE. In this gallery we will look at what we think are the best-named creatures in the natural world, hopefully convincing you that more monikers of this variety are needed.
  • Rasberry Crazy Ant
  • Lionhead Rabbit
  • Dumbo Octopus
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There are many approaches to naming animals, but we prefer names that describe the thing that makes each animal different. If an animal acts crazy or looks like a blob, say so in the name. If it has a really big head, put "big head" in the name. These names are more fun, more memorable and make more sense. Inspired by news that the Rasberry crazy ant was identified for the first time today as the species Nylanderia fulva in a paper in PLOS ONE, we've made a list of some of our favorite common names for animals. Often these names are weird, and usually attached to equally bizarre organisms. If we missed your favorite, let us know in the comments.

Rasberry Crazy Ant

The Rasberry crazy ant is an invasive species that has been spotted around Texas for the last decade or so. The common name has nothing to do with fruit, coming from exterminator Tom Rasberry, who first noticed the tiny pests. The crazy part of their name comes from their erratic movements. These ants appear to be crazy. A paper published today reveals that the ants have already made their way to all Gulf Coast states. Image: Rasberry crazy ants compete with a pill bug for a cliff bar in Texas. Bert Marshall/Flickr