What is significant about three newly discovered and named species of the slime-mould beetle Agathidium? These creatures spend their time scrabbling around in slime-like goo.

They are named after President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld - Agathidium Bushi, Agathidium Cheneyi and Agathidium Rumsfeldi.

Controversial? Quentin Wheeler and Kelly Miller, formerly of Cornell University, say the names are intended as an honour. " We are conservative politically, and so we generally admire the principles that this administration upholds" said Wheeler.On the other hand, Andrew Polaszek, of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature said that religion and politics should both be kept out of naming animals: " It goes really against the spirit of the code". Any objector must put their case to the 25 commissioners of this organisation.

This is not a unique case. Nelson Mandela has both a parasitic wasp, that attacks agricultural pests, and a genus of sea slugs named after him.

The White House has not replied to Wheeler's letter informing the President of the naming.The press office there hasn't replied to New Scientist either.

[source New Scientist April 23rd ]

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Quentin Wheeler and Kelly Miller, formerly of Cornell University, say the names are intended as an honour.

If they named a slime-mould beetle that spends its time scrabbling around in slime-like goo after me, I certainly wouldn't consider it an honour!

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Originally posted by Karrow:

quote:

Quentin Wheeler and Kelly Miller, formerly of Cornell University, say the names are intended as an honour.

If they named a slime-mould beetle that spends its time scrabbling around in slime-like goo after me, I certainly wouldn't consider it an honour!

I have it on good authority that there is a law suit pending concerning the rights to this name; I belive the original scientific name for this slime-mould beetle was the "Dorianis Greyedium Genus"!