Eriovixia Gryffindori: Newly Discovered Spider Looks Like ‘Harry Potter’ Sorting Hat

The Eriovixia gryffindori, which is a newly discovered spider species, bears a striking resemblance to the “sorting hat” in the Harry Potter fantasy series. As a tribute to the books and films, Javed Ahmed and Rajashree Khalap, who discovered the unusual spider, named it after the hat’s original owner Godric Gryffindor.

Per a recent paper, which was published in the Indian Journal of Arachnology, the small female spider was discovered during a survey to collect, identify, and document Araneae in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, India.

The Westen Ghats, according to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, are unique forestlands, which “are internationally recognized as a region of immense global importance for the conservation of biological diversity, besides containing areas of high geological, cultural, and aesthetic values.” The region is considered one of the “hottest hotspots of biological diversity” in the world.

Meet Eriovixia gryffindori: new leaf mimic #spider discovered in India named after the Sorting Hat from #HarryPotter https://t.co/UdymolY9gy pic.twitter.com/CrtsF8hmMd

— IFLBiodiversity (@IFLBiodiversity) December 15, 2016

Live Science reported that Javed Ahmed and Rajashree Khalap discovered the Eriovixia gryffindori in a small shrub in the Western Ghats. Although it closely resembles a variety of other spiders in the Eriovixia genus, the newly discovered spider had several attributes, including its genital structure, which are unique enough to classify it as a new species.

Like other spiders in the Eriovixia genus, Eriovixia gryffindori is an orb-weaving spider, which disguises itself as a dried leaf. However, the shape of the newly discovered spider also resembles the notorious “sorting hat” in the Harry Potter series.

In the Harry Potter novels and movies, the magical sorting hat was used to group Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry students into “houses” based on their talents and personalities. According to legend, the sorting hat was originally owned by a gentleman named Godric Gryffindor, who was one of the four founders of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQZFWA2KDbw

Javed Ahmed and Rajashree Khalap discuss their decision to name their newly discovered spider species after Godric Gryffindor in their paper.

“This uniquely shaped spider derives its name from the fabulous, sentient magical artifact, the sorting hat, owned by the (fictitious) medieval wizard Godric Gryffindor… and stemming from the powerful imagination of Ms. J. K. Rowling… An ode from the authors, for magic lost, and found, in an effort to draw attention to the fascinating, but oft overlooked world of invertebrates, and their secret lives.”

Eriovixia gryffindori is not the only uniquely or unusually named species in the animal world. Unlike astronomical bodies, the names of newly discovered species are not reviewed by oversight committees and there are few rules.

As explained by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, researchers are expected to “exercise reasonable care and consideration in forming new names to ensure that they are chosen with their subsequent users in mind and that, as far as possible, they are appropriate, compact, euphonious, memorable, and do not cause offense.” They are also required to state the derivation of the scientific name in publications introducing the new species.

As reported by SmithsonianMag.com, dozens of species are given interesting scientific names by the researchers who discovered their existence.

Smithsonian’s list includes a spider named Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi and a tapeworm named Acanthobothrium zimmeri in honor of science writer Carl Zimmer.

The names of some species, including Gollumjapyx smeagol, Oxyprimus galadrielae, Macrostyphlus frodo, and M. gandalf, refer to books written by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Others, including Cassiopeia andromeda, Clossiana thore, Stegodon ganesa, Papio anubis, Alabagrus coatlicue, A. ixtilton, A. mixcoatl, A. xolotl, Lucifer, Mephisto and Satan, were named in reference to mythology and religion.

Some species’ names, including Rabilimis mirabilis, Orizabus subaziro, Cedusa medusa, Agra phobia, Gelae baen, Ytu brutus, and Pieza pi are anagrams, palindroms, puns, and rhymes.

The Eriovixia gryffindori spider is only 0.3 inches in length. However, its name is a tremendous credit to J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series. In response to the news, Rowling said she is “truly honored.”

[Featured Image by Sugarless/Shutterstock]