The internet names a new deep-sea species, Senckenberg researchers select a scientific name from over 8,000 suggestions.

(Press-News.org) The Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA), in partnership with the scientific publisher Pensoft Publishers and famous science YouTuber Ze Frank, have let the Internet name a newly discovered deep-sea chiton (a type of marine mollusk). The formal description of the species was published today in the open-access Biodiversity Data Journal.

From over 8,000 name suggestions submitted via social media, the research team responsible for describing the species selected the name Ferreiraella populi. The specific epithet populi is a Latin singular noun in the genitive case meaning “of the people”. Curiously, the name was independently suggested by 11 different contributors during the naming contest.

From a YouTube video to Taxonomy It all began when Ze Frank featured the rare deep-sea chiton (genus Ferreiraella) in an episode of his "True Facts" YouTube series. 

Equipped with an iron-clad radula (a rasping tongue) and eight protective shell plates, the chiton also hosts a tiny community of worms near its tail that feed on its excrements. Everyone was invited to propose a scientific name and justification; within a week the community responded with over 8,000 name suggestions.

“We were overwhelmed by the response and the massive number of creative name suggestions!” says Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart, co-chair of SOSA at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt. “The name we chose, Ferreiraella populi, translates to “of the people”. 

Other notable suggestions included Ferreiraella stellacadens meaning “Shooting star chiton” - named for its unique aesthete pattern and the fact that it “shot to fame” during the selection process. Another was Fereiraella ohmu in reference to a chiton-like creature from Studio Ghibli, providing a nod to Japan, where the species was discovered. 

  A Specialized Resident of the Deep Originally discovered in 2024 within the Izu-Ogasawara Trench at a depth of 5,500 meters, the new deep-sea chiton Ferreiraella populi belongs to the genus Ferreiraella, a rare and specialized group of mollusks that live exclusively on sunken wood in the deep sea.

The new species represents an addition to a lineage of chitons that has been little researched to date and provides further evidence that deep-sea wood-fall ecosystems host highly specialized and still largely undiscovered communities,

- explains Sigwart.

Chitons are often described as a cross between a snail and a beetle. However, unlike common mollusks with a single shell, chitons possess eight separate shell plates (valves). This unique anatomy allows them to roll into a protective ball or cling to the irregular surfaces of deep-sea wood-falls. Found in both warm coastal waters and coral reefs as well as the deep sea, chitons can live at depths of up to 7,000 meters under extreme conditions and in absolute darkness.

  How is a scientific name formed? Ever wonder how a creature goes from "that deep-sea thing" to a formal scientific entry? Every newly discovered species is assigned a scientific name as part of its original taxonomic description. This follows Carl Linnaeus’s principle of binomial nomenclature and consists of two parts: the genus name (the first part, capitalized and italicised) and the specific epithet (the second part, lowercase and italicised). The name is assigned by the author(s) of the first description in a scientific publication, adhering to international codes such as the ICZN (zoology) or the ICN (botany). The name must be novel, unique, and latinized. Usually, epithets are often derived from characteristics like color or size, geographic locations, mythology, or personal names used to honor a specific individual.

Ferreiraella populi exemplifies the overwhelming biodiversity of the oceans, the vast majority of which remains unexplored. Many species go extinct before we even know they exist - this is especially true for marine invertebrates,

- says Sigwart. 

“It can often take ten, if not twenty years, for a new species to be studied, scientifically described, named, and published. At SOSA, we have therefore made it our mission to streamline these processes while simultaneously engaging the public with these fascinating creatures. Finding a name for the chiton together on social media is a wonderful opportunity to do just that! Ferreiraella populi has now been described and given a scientific name only two years after its discovery. This is crucial for the conservation of marine diversity, especially in light of the threats it faces such as deep-sea mining!”

Research paper:

(SOSA) SOSA, Chen C, Frank H, Kraniotis L, Nakadera Y, Schwabe E, Sigwart JD, Trautwein B, Vončina K (2026) Ocean Species Discoveries 28–30 — new species of chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora) and a public naming competition. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e180491. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e180491 

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About The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research is an institution of the Leibniz Association and has been researching the “Earth System” worldwide for over 200 years-investigating the past, the present, and providing projections for the future. We conduct integrative “geobiodiversity research” with the goal of understanding nature and its infinite diversity in order to preserve it as the basis of life for future generations and to use it sustainably.

In addition, Senckenberg communicates research findings in a variety of ways, primarily through its three natural history museums in Frankfurt, Görlitz, and Dresden. The Senckenberg Natural History Museums are places of learning and wonder, serving as open platforms for the dialogue between science and society-inclusive, participatory, and international. More information is available at www.senckenberg.de.

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About True Facts

Launched in December 2012, the True Facts series is an ongoing educational comedy project led by Ze Frank. The series utilizes a distinct mockumentary format, characterized by fast-paced narration and comedic style. By pairing bizarre wildlife trivia with legitimate scientific facts, Ze Frank has created a unique brand of combining education and entertainment that explores the eccentricities of the natural world.

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About Pensoft Publishers

Founded in 1992 “by scientists, for scientists”, the academic open-access publishing company is well known worldwide for its novel cutting-edge publishing tools, workflows and methods for text and data publishing of journals, books and conference materials. Back in 2010, Pensoft became the first scientific publisher to introduce semantic enrichments in scholarly publications. Through its Research and Technical Development department, the company is involved in various research and technology projects.

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About Biodiversity Data Journal

The Biodiversity Data Journal (BDJ) is an open-access, community-reviewed platform designed to accelerate the publication and sharing of all biodiversity-related data, regardless of scale or taxon. BDJ ensures that everything from ancient fossils to modern genomes is instantly accessible and machine-readable for the global scientific community, turning static research into a dynamic, reusable resource for the future of biology.

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