Good news! Belgian scientists have described a new genus of large and robust praying mantis from Asia – including this beautiful new species of Titanodula Attenboroughi, named after … Sir David Attenborough! They would like to thank him for his lifelong work in disseminating and accessing knowledge about living nature, and his efforts to advocate its conservation and protection.
David Attenborough has other species to his name (including a dinosaur, the Attenborosaurus!), and he once said that “getting a species named after you is the greatest compliment you can get from the scientific community.” You’re welcome, Sir! To see his latest addition in person, he will have to put in some effort: Titanodula Attenboroughi only occurs in the mountain plateaus of the Annamite mountains in Central Vietnam … But knowing him, this will make it all the more alluring!
The description of the new genus has been published in the 100th milestone issue of the Belgian open-access taxonomic journal the “Belgian Journal of Entomology.”
