Scientist names new millipede species after Taylor Swift — and another after his wife

Entomologist Derek Hennen might use millipedes to express his love.

He loves his wife enough to name a new species of millipede after her as a small token of his gratitude. But he also loves Taylor Swift — a lot.

“This new millipede species is Nannaria swiftae: I named it after (Taylor Swift),” Hennen said on Twitter. “I’m a big fan of her music, so I wanted to show my appreciation.”

The name means “Swift Twisted-Claw Millipede,” according to NPR. The name became official when it was published in the scientific journal ZooKeys.

“The specific name is a noun in the genitive case derived as a matronym, and is named in honor of the artist Taylor Swift, in recognition of her talent as a songwriter and performer and in appreciation of the enjoyment her music has brought,” Hennen wrote in the paper.

Naming that specific millipede species after Swift wasn’t random, though. On the surface it may seem as if the superstar and the millipede have nothing in common, but that’s not the case.

The Nannaria swiftae is from Tennessee, where the singer moved as a young teen to pursue her singing career.

The millipede was found in Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, Tennessee, according to CNN.

As a huge fan of Swift, Hennen told news outlets he hopes she’s honored by the namesake if she sees it.

He’s a big enough fan to keep CDs of Swift’s music in his car at all times, he told NPR. He loves “New Romantics” and “betty.”

“Her music helped me get through the highs and lows of graduate school, so naming a new millipede species after her is my way of saying thanks,” Hennen told Rolling Stone.

This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 9:17 AM with the headline "Scientist names new millipede species after Taylor Swift — and another after his wife."