No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveScientists name Costa Rica fern after Lady Gaga

Scientists name Costa Rica fern after Lady Gaga

Two weeks before Lady Gaga plays her first ever show in Costa Rica, the pop music superstar made a contribution to the country’s diversity – plant diversity, of course.

Duke biologists named 19 species of ferns (part of the same genus), located throughout Middle America and discovered in Costa Rica, after the flashy singer best known for hits like “Born This Way” and “Just Dance.”

Two of the species have not been discovered before, according to scientists at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina in the U.S. One of the specieis, discovered in Costa Rica, received the Latin name Gaga germanotta, after the artist who was born Stefani Germanotta. A recently discovered Mexican species was called Gaga monstrapova. The name translates into “little monster,” which is the nickname for Lady Gaga’s collective of diehard fans.

The ferns were named after Lady Gaga for several reasons including the plants’ fluid gender definitions at one stage of life. The fern also bears a resemblance to one of Lady Gaga’s outrageous outfits, the researches said.

“We wanted to name this genus for Lady Gaga because of her fervent defense of equality and individual expression,” said study leader Kathleen Pryer, a Duke University biology professor and director of the Duke Herbarium. “And as we started to consider it, the ferns themselves gave us more reasons why it was a good choice.”

Other plant species have been bestowed celebrity names, including a lichen named after U.S. President Barack Obama and a carniverous jungle planet named for actress Helen Mirren.

Lady Gaga will perform a concert for Costa Rican audiences on November 3 in the National Stadium.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Food Culture: From Bar Bocas to Fast Food Chains

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, you could walk into a bar, order a beer, and receive a free boca – a small...

Tsunami Alerts in Latin America After 8.8 Quake in Russia

An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Far East coast on Wednesday, one of the most powerful quakes ever recorded, triggering tsunamis with waves up...

Can Costa Rica’s Blue Zone Preserve Its Longevity Legacy?

The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is recognized worldwide as one of the five blue zones, where people live beyond the age of 90...

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Vacation in Costa Rica with Baby

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly touched down in Costa Rica for a family getaway with their three-month-old daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker. Photographers caught...

Costa Rica Seeks New Air Routes Amid Decline in European Tourism

Costa Rica is working to increase the number of international flights entering the country, as it faces a concerning drop in tourist arrivals.  The...

Honduras Reinstates Mask Mandate Amid Rise in Respiratory Illnesses

Honduran health officials have reinstated a nationwide mask mandate following a spike in respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and a fast-spreading Omicron subvariant known...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica