A newly discovered fish species and named after Wakanda style

Finding a new animal always brings interest to scientists. At that time, they wrote their names in history not only as people discovered an unknown animal, but also named them. And setting new names is another interesting story.

Some scientists choose names for these new species based on where they are found, even using their own unique names for them. Recently, research duo Luiz Rocha and Yi-Kai Tea have found a bright purple fish off the east coast of Africa, near Zanzibar. And they decided to name it inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Picture 1 of A newly discovered fish species and named after Wakanda style
This new species of fish is given a very unique name: Cirrhilabrus wakanda.

This fish has never been known before. Its bright purple body color and African origins have evoked a kind of fictional material - Vibranium, so they give it the name: prehistoric Vibranium fish. In the Marvel novel, Vibranium is found in Wakanda, and it is the material for Captain America's Black Panther armor and shield. And they continue to give it the same scientific name: Cirrhilabrus wakanda.

As Earther explained, this fish is very similar to prehistoric lizards, different in that they are smaller, feeding on floating plankton and hiding in coral reefs. They reside in depths from 48 meters to 80 meters, a depth of challenge for ordinary divers. Two researchers have been specially trained and equipped with modern diving equipment to have the opportunity to observe this fish in the natural environment.

Talking about this naming, researchers have emphasized that they desire to make science accessible (and more interesting) to those who love it.