David Attenborough Has Motivated Numerous Scientists. In Celebration of His 100th Birthday, Here Are Ten Organisms They’ve Named in His Honor
Scientists across the globe were inspired by documentaries hosted by the British broadcaster and naturalist, igniting their passion for the natural environment. Today, their findings serve as homages to his enduring legacy
Approximately 50 species have been named in honor of David Attenborough or aspects of his legacy, ranging from an orchid to a marine worm to one of the earliest known predators.
Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Full credit at bottom of article
David Attenborough introduces the documentary segment by showcasing the extraordinary success of jungle ants. He notes that on just 2.5 acres of land, as many as eight million of these insects could exist and flourish.
Yet, an ominous noise indicates that a change is imminent. Spores of the parasitic fungus Cordyceps, Attenborough discloses, have overtaken the minds of the creatures shown, manipulating them like puppets to ascend. Ultimately, one ant becomes immobile, and the fungal fruiting body bursts forth from its cranium.
This iconic sequence from an episode of BBC’s “Planet Earth,” released in 2006, altered the course of mycologist João Araújo’s career. Attenborough “was the most significant figure who inspired me to transition from studying mushrooms to Cordyceps,” recounts Araújo from the Natural History Museum of Denmark.
Partly due to this connection, Araújo and his fellow researchers opted to name a fungus that takes control of cave spiders after the naturalist, designating it Gibellula attenboroughii in a publication from last year.
G. attenboroughii is among the latest additions to approximately 50 species—including flora, beetles, and birds—given an eponym to honor Attenborough, a renowned broadcaster and naturalist of all time. Scientists globally recognize his voice, as he guided them through the television screen on journeys that encouraged them to discover and protect nature.
To celebrate Attenborough’s 100th birthday on May 8, here are ten of those living (or once living) entities that carry his name.
Parasitic fungus: Gibellula attenboroughii
A spider ensnared by a zombifying fungus, resembling white fuzz. © Tim Fogg
Certain varieties of orb-weaving spiders conceal themselves in dark cave corners. However, when the parasitic fungus G. attenboroughii invades their bodies, it compels the hidden arachnids into the light. They embark on a death march to their ultimate resting places, generally concluding on rocky surfaces or moss near cave entrances. This likely ensures that the hosts perish in drier areas with enhanced airflow, facilitating the dispersal of fungal spores to new prey.
Researchers reported the newly identified species in January 2025, but they were not the first to observe it. In 2021, a filming team working on the BBC “Winterwatch” nature documentary series discovered a deceased spider enveloped in whitish fuzz on the ceiling of an outdated gunpowder storage facility in Northern Ireland. Since then, scientists have located the eerie fungus in other regions of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
The zombifying species was named in honor of Attenborough due to his crucial role in establishing the BBC’s natural history unit, “leading, indirectly, to the current nature series during which the new species was first identified,” remarked Harry Evans, a mycologist at the environmental nonprofit Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International, who collaborated on the publication describing the fungus with Araújo, in a statement given in 2025.
Fossil bird: Imparavis attenboroughi
This fossilized bird was distinct from many of its contemporaries—it had no teeth. X. Wang et al., Cretaceous Research, 2024
About 120 million years ago, a peculiar little bird—unlike many others of its era—flitted through northeastern China’s skies. Unlike modern avian species, many early birds had beaks filled with small, sharp teeth. This one did not.
An artistic representation of how “Attenborough’s peculiar bird” may have appeared in its time © Ville Sinkkonen
This ancient creature belonged to a now-extinct category of proto-birds known as enantiornithines, referred to as “opposite birds” due to their unique shoulder joint configuration, which differs from that of modern birds. Prior to the mass extinction event that obliterated all non-avian dinosaurs, the evolution of toothlessness did ultimately occur among opposite birds. However, a fossil described in 2024 pushed this timeline back by approximately 48 million years. Researchers named this recently discovered species Imparavis attenboroughi, which means “Attenborough’s strange bird.”
Co-author of the study, Alex Clark, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Chicago and Field Museum, stated that he grew up watching the BBC’s “Trials of Life” series hosted by Attenborough. “I most likely wouldn’t have pursued a career in natural sciences if it weren’t for David Attenborough’s documentaries,” he mentioned when the study was published.
“In some way, [Attenborough has] influenced people’s views on the natural world or been a significant voice raised regarding global issues affecting our planet,” Clark shared with the Chicago Sun-Times’ Erica Thompson in 2024.
Marine worm: Marphysa davidattenboroughi
This vibrant marine worm resides in sediment near southeast Australia. Leon Altoff / Marine Research Group of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
Along the southeastern coast of Australia, a marine worm approximately three inches long, radiant in rainbow hues, is buried within sediment. It features two tiny eyes, five antennae, and a segmented structure lined with red, bristle-like gills, filled with blood. Its pinkish tint classifies it among a group known as bloodworms—predominantly carnivorous marine organisms boasting high levels of hemoglobin, the protein that imparts a red color to blood.
“While they may not be the most visually appealing creatures on Earth, they play essential roles,” remarks Nicolas Lavesque, a taxonomist at the French National Center for Scientific Research. Various marine worms inhabit the seas, fulfilling crucial functions in marine food webs. Many recreational anglers utilize bloodworms as bait.
In 2023, Lavesque and his team characterized the iridescent species from Australia and named it Marphysa davidattenboroughi. Attenborough “is undoubtedly among those who motivated me to pursue biology,” states Lavesque. He even sent a copy of the paper to the esteemed naturalist, who responded with a handwritten letter expressing gratitude for the honor.
Currently, Lavesque’ Friday nights frequently consist of enjoying a meal at home with his young children while watching a documentary narrated by Attenborough.
When Lavesque revealed the broadcaster’s letter to his children, he recalls, “They were ecstatic, running around the house cheering, ‘Mom, he replied to Dad! David Attenborough sent a letter!’”
Miniature orchid: Lepanthes attenboroughii
These two orchids were previously thought to be a single species. However, an analysis of their structures revealed significant differences. The one on the right is L. attenboroughii. J. Yeager et al., Phytotaxa, 2022. Photos by Ron Parsons
For many years, botanists confused a diminutive orchid with another closely related species. Both types showcase yellow and maroon striped petals that form small, balloon-shaped flowers. However, orchid researcher Luis Baquero from the University of the Americas in Ecuador noticed that some of the plants displayed rounder blooms.
Upon further examination, Baquero and his colleagues identified clear structural variations. For instance, the previously characterized species had a specialized internal petal that was smaller than that of the newly identified species. Baquero and his team documented the unique orchid in a 2022 report, naming it Lepanthes attenboroughii.
The researchers traced some of these orchids back from museum and private collections to their source at a nursery in Ecuador, where staff claimed the plants originated from the western Andes, adjacent to Colombia. However, this species had rarely been observed in its natural habitat, and in 2025, researchers published a genetic study that instead traced it to a specific region of the eastern Andes, stretching from southern Colombia to Peru.
This inconsistency is “concerning,” because the International Union for Conservation of Nature—which advises conservation efforts—necessitates specific documentation of where endangered plants are found, according to Baquero. “If this continues to occur, critical species at risk might be improperly evaluated” by the organization, he adds, resulting in inadequate safeguards. L. attenboroughii currently lacks sufficient data for classification in the IUCN’s list of threatened species.
As Attenborough is a prominent science communicator with a significant background in conservation efforts surrounding such matters, Baquero states, “We deemed [L. attenboroughii] an appropriate name.”
Did you know? So nice, knighted twice
For his contributions to broadcasting and conservation, Attenborough was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985. In 2022, he received an even greater honor, being awarded the Knight Grand Cross.
Fossil cnidarian: Auroralumina attenboroughii
A cast of the first discovered fossil of Auroralumina attenboroughii F. S. Dunn et al., Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2022
This cnidarian was an ancient, predatory creature related to present-day jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones. F. S. Dunn et al., Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2022
Although it may not appear to be a fearsome hunter, a cnidarian that lived roughly 560 million years ago might have been one of the earliest carnivorous animals. A fossil uncovered in England reveals an eight-inch-tall impression of the organism in its polyp life stage, the phase where it was anchored to the ocean floor. This specimen preserves a stalk that bifurcates into two appendages, each adorned with a goblet-like structure housing tentacles likely employed to capture small prey passing by.
This fossil is remarkable because it represents “the oldest animal that we can confidently associate with any existing animal group,” explains Frankie Dunn, a paleontologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
This creature belonged to the cnidarian group, which includes modern-day jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones. However, ancient cnidarians, which predate more complex life forms, can provide insights into evolutionary history, Dunn states. “Understanding when they first appeared is crucial for grasping how today’s animal diversity came to be and what early animal ecosystems looked like.”
Attenborough showcased Charnwood Forest in the documentary series “First Life.” Nature on PBS, BBC “First Life” under fair use
Paleontologists discovered the specimen in Charnwood Forest, England in 2007, noted for its extraordinary fossils from the Ediacaran era, a period when multicellular life began to emerge, ranging from 539 to 635 million years ago. Attenborough spent his childhood exploring this site and has highlighted its scientific significance. Therefore, when Dunn and her team reported it in 2022, they chose to name the primitive creature Auroralumina attenboroughii.
Phytoplankton: Syracosphaera azureaplaneta
This single-celled organism thrives in the ocean and converts sunlight into nourishment. It is enveloped in bowl-shaped shields called coccoliths. University College London
Phytoplankton are minuscule yet impactful single-celled organisms that perform a function similar to that of plants. Among the prominent phytoplankton types are coccolithophores, which drift in the upper layers of the ocean, harnessing sunlight for their food production. Each cell measures just a few thousandths of a millimeter and is surrounded by numerous bowl-shaped calcareous shields known as coccoliths.
These organisms are vital components at the foundation of marine food webs, generating oxygen and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. However, the process of coccolith formation also produces carbon dioxide, thereby establishing a complex interaction with the environment and climate change.
In 2018, scientists identified variations in coccolith shapes within a single species. For example, the largest, external shields on certain organisms were rounder with broader central indentations compared to others. Although these differences are subtle, they are consistent and lack intermediates, suggesting the existence of two distinct species, explains Jeremy Young, a micropaleontologist at University College London.
Comparison of the outermost coccoliths on the new species, S. azureaplaneta, versus the previously identified species, S. corolla J. Young et al., Journal of Nannoplankton Research, 2018
Young along with his colleagues named the newly identified species Syracosphaera azureaplaneta—from Latin for “blue planet”—to commemorate the Attenborough-narrated BBC series sharing the same title, which has fostered an “understanding of the marine realm,” as articulated by the authors of the study.
Most individuals would be “astounded” to learn that phytoplankton are “more crucial to our atmosphere than all the rainforests combined,” Attenborough remarked in 2018 when informed of the new species’ name, as reported by BBC News’ David Shukman.
What is his impression of S. azureaplaneta? “They’re breathtaking; absolutely beautiful,” he stated.
Fossil crustacean: Cascolus ravitis
3D Animation of Cascolus ravitis a 430 Million-Year-Old Fossil
This creature measured only about 0.35 inches in length, and its features were outlined in a remarkable fossil unearthed in Herefordshire, England. “We affectionately nicknamed this fossil ‘Pretty’ due to its striking appearance,” shares study co-author David Siveter, an emeritus paleontologist at England’s University of Leicester.
The specimen was preserved in such detail that scientists were able to create a virtual counterpart to enhance their examination of the ancient creature. This digital representation is crucial for understanding the evolution of current shrimp, crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans.
Attenborough spent part of his upbringing at the University of Leicester, where his father was employed. To honor the broadcaster’s 90th birthday, Siveter was tasked with conceptualizing a tribute. “The most apparent choice was to acquire a beautiful fossil and name it after David,” he remarks.
Instead of opting for a more traditional route, the authors of the study explored the Attenborough family’s ancestry. The surname traces back to Old and Middle English meaning “one who resides in a fortress or stronghold,” Siveter explains. By Latinizing the meaning, they generated the genus name Casculus. The species designation, ravitis, derives from Latin terms for Leicester, life, and messenger.
Siveter’s fascination with the natural world partly stems from Attenborough, as he and his twin brother, Derek—also an author of the study—were captivated by one of Attenborough’s seminal programs, “Zoo Quest,” during their childhood. “It utterly enchanted me,” Siveter remembers. “He introduced us to Borneo, to the Philippines, to these exotic locales we could only dream about.”
Butterfly: Euptychia attenboroughi
A male butterfly, with the left panel depicting its upper side and the right revealing its underside A. F. E. Neild et al., ZooKeys, 2015. Photos by Andrew Neild, Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
A rare butterfly can be found in the lowland tropical forests of the upper Amazon basin. It features cream-colored wings adorned with light brown stripes and edges, alongside round “eyespots” of black bordered with yellow.
The pattern appeared quite unusual, as did the shape of these fluttering appendages. Indeed, they appeared so distinctive that researchers initially speculated that this bizarre insect might belong to an entirely undiscovered genus.
Consequently, they performed genetic analyses on the species and in 2015 announced it as a new butterfly species within the established Euptychia genus. At that time, the team had only identified six specimens, all within roughly 310 miles of one another across Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil, suggesting that the butterflies inhabit a relatively limited area.
The study authors chose the name E. attenboroughi to pay tribute to Attenborough “in appreciation for enlightening millions regarding the natural world through his inspiring and educational endeavors,” they write in their paper.
“Other animals and plants have been previously named after Sir David, but we take pride in being the first to dedicate a butterfly species in his honor,” remarked Andrew Neild, an entomologist presently at the Florida Museum of Natural History, who co-authored the study. “Despite our large team spanning multiple countries across four continents and speaking diverse languages, we have all been profoundly influenced and inspired by Sir David’s engaging and informative documentaries.”
Echidna: Zaglossus attenboroughi
Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna was believed to be possibly extinct until an expedition team captured the first footage of the creature with camera traps in 2023. Expedition Cyclops
During the 1990s, mammalogist Tim Flannery and the late biologist Colin Groves scrutinized numerous museum specimens of long-beaked echidnas. This group—along with the short-beaked echidna and the platypus—represents the only egg-laying mammals existing today. The researchers aimed to better classify the long-snouted species, which belong to the genus Zaglossus, to enhance conservation initiatives. Yet the endangered animals—native solely to New Guinea—were exceedingly rare.
The museum specimens elucidated three distinct species of Zaglossus, one of which they designated Z. attenboroughi, or “Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna.” This species measures approximately 16 inches and has dense, fine, short fur that is mostly earthy brown, with lighter fur on its underside.
However, the team identified the species based only on a lone specimen collected from the Cyclops Mountains in 1961. “It’s possible that this particular species is already extinct,” Flannery and Groves noted in a study released in 1998.
The Z. attenboroughi specimen collected in 1961, which enabled researchers to classify the species of long-beaked echidna. Naturalis Biodiversity Center under public domain
Twenty-five years later, an expedition team traversing the Cyclops Mountains secured the first visual evidence of Z. attenboroughi. Prior to the announcement to the public in 2023, Flannery fortuitously learned of the rediscovery while visiting London.
“The very next morning, I visited David’s residence with the footage on my phone and said, ‘Attenborough’s echidna is indeed thriving,’” Flannery reminisces. “He was nearly in tears.”
Plesiosaur: Attenborosaurus conybeari
The type specimen of Attenborosaurus— a fossil cast representing the genus of plesiosaurs—resides in the Natural History Museum in London. © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
During the reign of formidable dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, terrifying marine reptiles patrolled the ancient waters. Some of these were plesiosaurs, characterized by their elongated necks and predatory nature, existing between 66 million and 215 million years ago. Equipped with four flippers, they likely ambushed unwary prey from below.
A remarkable plesiosaur specimen was discovered in 1880 along the southern coast of England. This nearly complete skeleton was named Plesiosaurus conybeari. However, it was tragically destroyed during World War II—in 1940, when Nazis bombed the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery in the UK. Fortunately, researchers had previously created plaster casts of the fossil, allowing scientists and museum visitors to continue to appreciate the 190-million-year-old creature.
Years later, paleontologist Robert Bakker recognized that the creature was sufficiently distinct to warrant a new genus. Consequently, in 1993, he conferred upon it the name Attenborosaurus due to the broadcaster’s childhood fascination with plesiosaurs, which Bakker has stated “fueled a remarkable career in scientific journalism,” as reported by BBC News’ Bethan Jinkinson in 2012.
David Attenborough and his ‘Attenborosaurus’
The type specimen of Attenborosaurus—the cast that represents the complete group—is currently displayed in the Natural History Museum in London. When the museum updated the label to include Attenborough’s name, the naturalist “leaned casually” near the exhibit, awaiting visitors’ reactions, he recounted to the Washington Post’s Abby Ohlheiser in 2015. Unfortunately, “people walked past without a second glance. So, that placed me back in my place.”
During this interview, Attenborough expressed that Attenborosaurus was his preferred organism named after him. “Having a species named after you is nice… but being honored with a genus name is really something special,” he remarked.
Main image credit: Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz. Images from: Danny Martindale / WireImage via Getty Images; Expedition Cyclops; J. Yeager et al., Phytotaxa, 2022 / Ron Parsons; A. F. E. Neild et al., ZooKeys, 2015; Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London; X. Wang et al., Cretaceous Research, 2024; F. S. Dunn et al., Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2022