A newly discovered deep-sea chiton has been named Ferreiraella populi through a global online campaign that drew over 8,000 suggestions. The species, found in Japan's Izu-Ogasawara Trench, honors the public's involvement in its scientific description. This effort highlights innovative ways to engage people in ocean biodiversity.
The Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA), in collaboration with Pensoft Publishers and science YouTuber Ze Frank, launched a public naming initiative for a rare deep-sea chiton. The creature appeared in an episode of Frank's "True Facts" YouTube series, prompting viewers to submit scientific name proposals with justifications. Within one week, more than 8,000 ideas flooded in via social media.
Scientists selected Ferreiraella populi, where "populi" is Latin for "of the people." Remarkably, 11 participants independently proposed this name. Other notable suggestions included Ferreiraella stellacadens, evoking a shooting star due to the animal's aesthete pattern, and Ferreiraella ohmu, inspired by a chiton-like figure from a Studio Ghibli film.
"We were overwhelmed by the response and the massive number of creative name suggestions!" said Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart, co-chair of SOSA at the Senckenberg Research Institute. "The name we chose, Ferreiraella populi, translates to 'of the people.'"
First discovered in 2024 at 5,500 meters in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench, this chiton belongs to the genus Ferreiraella, which inhabits sunken wood in the deep sea. It features eight armored shell plates, an iron-clad radula, and hosts worms near its tail that feed on its excrement. Chitons, resembling a snail-beetle hybrid, can curl into a ball for protection and thrive from shallow waters to depths of 7,000 meters.
The official description appeared in the open-access Biodiversity Data Journal, just two years after discovery—a rapid timeline aimed at conservation amid threats like deep-sea mining. Sigwart emphasized the urgency: "It can often take ten, if not twenty years, for a new species to be studied, scientifically described, named, and published... This is crucial for the conservation of marine diversity."
This case underscores the untapped biodiversity in ocean wood-fall ecosystems and the value of public engagement in taxonomy.