A new species of snake recently discovered in Peru has been named after American actor Harrison Ford.
This has been announced by the German Society for Herpetology and Terrarium Science. Scientists christened the animal Tachymenoides harrisonfordi, honouring the actor's long-standing commitment to climate.
A great naturalist, Harrison Ford sits on the board of the US non-profit Conservation International. His new namesake is a narrow snake, which can grow to about 40 centimetres in length. The snake is not dangerous to humans as the animal feeds predominantly on lizards and frogs.
Scientists are still discovering new animal species. It is important that these are named, as only known animals can be protected.
Besides his role as Han Solo in Star Wars, Ford is also world-famous for his portrayal of archaeologist Indiana Jones, a character who hates snakes. Ford, however, does not share his dislike for reptiles.
"The snake has eyes you can drown in and spends most of his day next to a pool of dirty water. We probably would have been friends in the early 1960s," he joked to Conservation International.
A spider and an ant were also previously named after Ford: Calponia harrisonfordi and Pheidole harrisonfordi, respectively.
"These scientists keep naming critters after me, but it's always the ones that scare children," he responded. "I don't understand. I spend my free time cross-stitching. I sing lullabies to basil plants so they won't fear the night."
