Yale scientists name Obamadon, a slender-jawed lizard, after the President

[Eugene]

Source: Boston Globe

12/10/2012 | 4:36 PM

Yale scientists name Obamadon, a slender-jawed lizard, after the President

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe Staff

The small, insect-eating lizard was discovered in the badlands of northeastern Montana—its fossil preserved in an area called the Hell Creek formation. Less than a foot long, it had elaborate teeth with three cusps on each tooth and a slender jaw. Some 65 million years ago, it went extinct. And now, it is named for the 44th president of the United States: Obamadon gracilis.

The ancient lizard species bearing President Obama’s name was discovered when researchers from Yale and Harvard universities re-examined fossil collections all across the country, as part of an effort to understand what happened to lizards and snakes during the mass extinction that killed off the dinosaurs.

In the process, Yale paleontologist Nicholas Longrich said the team encountered several new species that were previously unknown or misclassified lurking in museum collections. There was one ferocious carnivorous lizard in need of a name, but that one didn’t turn out to be presidential. The small one with the slender jaw seemed just right. There was one problem. This was before November.

“I was seriously thinking, if the election had gone the other way, I would have yanked it,” Longrich said. “It might have seemed like we were mocking it, naming a lizard that goes extinct after that, seemed kind of cruel.”

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/science/blogs/science-in-mind/2012/12/10/yale-scientists-name-obamadon-slender-jawed-lizard-after-the-president/8VELtuwNDxWjbOciIsYphM/blog.html

[Historic NY]

1. Too bad it can't eat the congressional insects.

[ROBROX]

2. THIS IS GREAT

This will be a terror to those little brained GOP members who will lose sleep thinking about this lizard. The GOP is an insect about to go extinct with fewer and fewer voters to keep it alive.

[Posteritatis]

3. I can only describe that name as "metal." (nt)

[BainsBane]

4. so a tiny lizard living among enormous dinosaurs

Is that really flattering?

[shireen]

7. just because an organism is small, it doesn't diminsh its uniqueness

All fossils are amazing. They all teach us so much about the evolution of life and the role that all organisms played in the web of life.

The scientists who made the discovery specialize in those kinds of extinct reptiles and therefore have a deep appreciation for them. It was their way of honoring the president. So yes, I'd be very flattered and appreciative if I were Pres. Obama.

[UndahCovah]

5. Is this supposed to be flattering?

Sorry, but I don't think that using the president's name to label a tiny extinct reptile is particularly flattering.

Same thing with that new fish species they named after Obama. Just not proper, IMHO.

Now, if they want to name some noble, apex predator after Obama, that would be pretty badass.

[shireen]

8. yes, it is flattering. Very much so.

It is a wonderful honor to have an organism named after you, no matter how large or small. All these creatures are unique and played a special role in their ancient ecosystems. The scientists who found them specialized in those types of organisms, held a deep appreciation for them, and in naming them after the president, bestowed a great honor on him.

[russspeakeasy]

6. The asshole that came up with the name should be ......

you fill in the blank...

[meti57b]

9. I would have prefered they name a species of tiger after Obama.