- A new snake species found in Peru has been named after Harrison Ford.
- Ford, who has previously had an ant and a spider named after him, expressed his gratitude for the recognition.
- While flattered, Ford jokingly remarked, “It seems like scientists always choose to name the scary creatures after me, which can be quite terrifying for children.”
Harrison Ford’s list of namesake species has grown with the addition of a newly discovered snake.
The snake, characterized by its copper-and-black coloration, was found in the Andes mountains of Peru and has been officially named Tachymenoides harrisonfordi, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
While Ford felt honored by the gesture, he expressed his bewilderment at the choice of namesake.
Playfully, Ford commented, “It seems like these scientists enjoy naming creatures after me, but it’s always the ones that scare children. I don’t quite understand it. In my free time, I enjoy cross-stitching and singing lullabies to my basil plants to calm their fears of the dark.”
Prior to this snake, Ford also inspired the naming of an ant species, Pheidole harrisonfordi, predominantly found in Honduras, and a spider species from California, Calponia harrisonfordi.
Aside from his countless on-screen roles, Ford is also known for his dedication to environmental causes and holds the position of vice chair at Conservation International. However, his association with snakes can be traced back to his iconic character Indiana Jones, who famously proclaimed, “Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” in “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
CBS via Getty Images
“This discovery is truly humbling,” Ford stated in a press release. “It serves as a reminder of how much we still have to learn about our natural world. As humans, we are merely a small part of a vast biosphere, interconnected with all other species. Currently, one million species are on the brink of extinction. We have an existential responsibility to restore our relationship with nature and protect the habitats that sustain life.”
He added, “This snake has eyes that can captivate you, and spends most of its time basking near polluted water – we probably would have been friends back in the early 60s.”
The research leading to this discovery was spearheaded by biology professor Edgar Lehr from Illinois Wesleyan University, in collaboration with scientists from Peru and the United States. The team ventured into Peru’s Otishi National Park, a relatively unexplored grassland region, where they encountered the male specimen of the Tachymenoides harrisonfordi snake.
Despite facing various dangers during their expedition, including a close call with drug traffickers in an area dubbed “Peru’s cocaine valley,” Lehr, speaking on behalf of Conservation International, declared the mission a success.
“The discovery of new species, including Harrison Ford’s snake, is always worth the risks involved,” he affirmed.
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