The British author J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) and the names of fictional characters and places he invented for his legendarium have had a substantial impact on culture, and have become the namesakes of various things around and outside the world, including street names, mountains, companies, species of animals and plants, asteroids, and other notable objects.
By convention, certain classes of features on Saturn's moon Titan are named after elements from Middle-earth. [15] Colles (small hills or knobs) are named for characters, [16] while montes (mountains) are named for mountains of Middle-earth. [17]
Collis [16] | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Named after |
---|---|---|---|
Arwen Colles | 7°30′S 250°00′W / 7.5°S 250.0°W | 64 | Arwen, character from The Lord of the Rings |
Bilbo Colles | 4°12′S 38°36′W / 4.2°S 38.6°W | 164 | Bilbo Baggins, titular character of The Hobbit |
Faramir Colles | 4°00′N 153°48′W / 4.0°N 153.8°W | 82 | Faramir, character from The Lord of the Rings |
Gandalf Colles | 14°36′N 209°30′W / 14.6°N 209.5°W | 102 | Gandalf, character from The Lord of the Rings |
Handir Colles | 10°00′N 356°42′W / 10.0°N 356.7°W | 100 | Handir, character from The Silmarillion |
Nimloth Colles | 11°54′N 151°18′W / 11.9°N 151.3°W | 90 | Nimloth, name of a character and a tree from Middle-earth |
A crater adjacent the planet's north pole, Tolkien, is named after the eponymous author.
Various maculae on Pluto and Charon are unofficially named after subjects in Middle Earth.
Maculae | Object | Coordinates | Named after |
---|---|---|---|
Balrog Macula | Pluto | 10°S 80°W / 10°S 80°W | Balrog, a race of demons from the mythos. [18] [19] |
Mordor Macula | Charon | 80°N 00°W / 80°N -0°E | Mordor [20] [21] It is named after the shadow lands in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, which it resembles in shape. [22] |
Morgoth Macula | Pluto | 20°S 172°E / 20°S 172°E | Morgoth, the dark lord of Arda and the main antagonist up to the First Age. |
Several undersea features in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Ireland and south of Iceland, [40] including:
At least three seamounts in the Indian Ocean, including: [47]
The "Tolkien Road" in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was named after Tolkien whereas the "Tolkien Way" in Stoke-on-Trent is named after Tolkien's eldest son, Fr. John Francis Tolkien, who was the priest in charge at the nearby Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Angels and St. Peter in Chains. [59] In the Hall Green and Moseley areas of Birmingham, parks and walkways are dedicated to J. R. R. Tolkien, especially at the Millstream Way and Moseley Bog. [60] Collectively the parks are known as the Shire Country Parks. [60] In Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England there is a collection of roads in the 'Weston Village' named after locales of Middle Earth, namely Hobbiton Road, Bree Close, Arnor Close, Rivendell, Westmarch Way and Buckland Green. [61]
In the Dutch town of Geldrop, near Eindhoven, the streets of an entire new neighbourhood are named after Tolkien himself ("Laan van Tolkien") and some of the best-known characters from his books. [62]
Two streets at Warsaw, Poland were named in 2022 after J.R.R. Tolkien and Gandalf. Both streets are located at neighbourhood commonly called Mordor. [63]
The Bend, Oregon housing development Forest Creek (formerly "The Shire") features the Tolkien-inspired names Ring Bearer Court, Shire Lane, and Wizard Lane. [64] One of the student housing complexes at the University of California, Irvine is named Middle Earth; its halls and other facilities were selected from Tolkien's legendarium. [65]
In the Silicon Valley towns of Saratoga and San Jose in California, there are two housing developments with street names drawn from Tolkien's works. About a dozen Tolkien-derived street names also appear scattered throughout the town of Lake Forest, California. The Columbia, Maryland, neighbourhood of Hobbit's Glen and its street names (including Rivendell Lane, Tooks Way, and Oakenshield Circle) come from Tolkien's works. [66]
It has been noted that "Tolkien has been accorded formal taxonomic commemoration like no other author." [67] In the field of taxonomy, over 200 taxa (genera and species) have been given scientific names honouring, or deriving from, characters or other fictional elements from The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and other works set in Middle-earth. [25]
Several taxa have been named after the character Gollum (also known as Sméagol), as well as for various hobbits, the small humanlike creatures such as Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Various elves, dwarves, and other creatures that appear in his writings. Tolkien himself has been honoured in the names of several species. In 1978, paleontologist Leigh Van Valen named over 20 taxa of extinct mammals after Tolkien lore in a single paper. [68] [69] The entomologist Karl-Johan Hedqvist, also a fan of Tolkien, named several wasp genera after Tolkien's characters. [70] In 1999, entomologist Lauri Kaila described 46 new species of Elachista moths and named 38 of them after Tolkien mythology. [25] [71]
In 2004, the extinct hominid Homo floresiensis was described, and quickly earned the nickname "hobbit" due to its small size. [72]
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Martesia tolkieni Kennedy, 1974 | Clam | J. R. R. Tolkien | "The name tolkieni honors the late J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and many delightful creatures of long ago in the time of Middle-earth." | [73] |
Leucothoe tolkieni Vinogradov, 1990 | Amphipod | J. R. R. Tolkien | [74] [75] | |
Gabrius tolkieni Schillhammer 1997 | Beetle | J. R. R. Tolkien | [76] | |
Tolkienia † Lieberman & Kloc, 1997 | Trilobite | J. R. R. Tolkien | A genus of Devonian trilobites that has been found in Spain, France and the United States. | [77] |
Khamul tolkeini Gates, 2008 | Wasp | J. R. R. Tolkien | "named in honor of J. R. R. Tolkein [ sic] for his profound impact on the fantasy literature genre." | [78] |
Shireplitis tolkieni Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | J. R. R. Tolkien | [79] | |
Drassodella tolkieni Mbo et al, 2019 | Spider | J. R. R. Tolkien | "Named after John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, who was born in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa on 3rd January 1892 and died on 2nd September 1973. He is internationally recognised for his authorship of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, amongst other works. His fictional 'Middle Earth' is believed to have been inspired in part by the exceptional natural scenery of Hogsback, the type locality of this species." | [80] |
Hyloscirtus tolkieni Sánchez-Nivicela et al, 2023 | Frog | J. R. R. Tolkien | "The specific epithet tolkieni is in honour of the writer, poet, philologist, and academic John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892–1973), creator of Middle-earth and author of fantasy works like “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”. The amazing colours of the new species evoke the magnificent creatures that seem to only exist in fantasy worlds."; "In a stream in the forest there lived a Hyloscirtus. Not a nasty, dirty stream, with spoor of contamination and a muddy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy stream with nothing in it to perch on or to eat: it was a Hyloscirtus-stream, and that means environmental quality." | [81] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Macropsidius sauroni (Hamilton, 1972) | Leafhopper | Sauron | [82] [83] | |
Balrogia Hedqvist, 1977 | Wasp | Balrogs | "The new genus is named after a monster called Balrog in Tolkin's book 'The Lord of the Rings'." | [84] |
Mimatuta morgoth † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Morgoth | "Fëanor's name for Melkor, the power-lustful Vala of The Silmarillion. Reference is to the Hell Creek Formation." | [69] |
Mithrandir † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Gandalf (Mithrandir) | "Mithrandir (Sindarin, gray wanderer), Elvish name for Olorin, wisest of the Istari in The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to the subtleness of the differences between the subgenera." | |
Niphredil radagasti † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Radagast | "Radagast, naturalist of the Istari in The Lord of the Rings." | |
Helferella gothmogoides Williams & Weir, 1988 | Beetle | Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs | "The species name is derived from Gothmog, a commander within the evil host of Mordor, and oides, latin suffix signifying 'resembling'." | [85] |
Macrostyphlus gandalf Morrone, 1994 | Beetle | Gandalf | [86] | |
Semicytherura balrogi Brouwers, 1994 | Ostracod | Balrogs | "After the Balrog, an evil character in J.R.R. Tolkien's adventures of Middle Earth" | [87] |
Semicytherura tauronae Brouwers, 1994 | Ostracod | Oromë (Tauron) | "After Tauron, a character in J.R.R. Tolkien's adventures of Middle Earth." | |
Sauron Eskov, 1995 | Spider | Sauron | The zoologist Kirill Eskov, author of The Last Ringbearer, a retelling of The Lord of the Rings from Mordor's point of view, has named a genus of linyphiid sheet weaver spiders Sauron after the ruler of Mordor. [88] | [89] |
Elachista olorinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Gandalf (Olórin) | From Gandalf's alternate name Olórin | [71] |
Elachista tauronella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Oromë (Tauron) | ||
Paraortygoides radagasti † Dyke & Gulas, 2002 | Bird | Radagast | "For the wizard of Middle Earth, Radagast the Brown, rabid communicator with birds" | [90] |
Gandalfia Willems et al, 2005 | Flatworm | Gandalf | [91] | |
Litoria sauroni Richards & Oliver, 2006 | Frog | Sauron | "From the character Sauron, referred to as 'the eye' in Tolkien’s 'The Lord of the Rings', in reference to the striking red and black mottled eye of this taxon." | [92] |
Gandalfus McLay, 2007 | Crab | Gandalf | "Gandalfus is derived from the name of the omnipotent 'Gandalf', a character in J. R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings', which was made into a film by Peter Jackson, in New Zealand, the home of the type species." | [93] |
Khamul gothmogi Gates, 2008 | Wasp | Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs | "named in honor of Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs, High Captain of Angband" | [94] |
Liolaemus tulkas Quinteros et al, 2008 | Lizard | Tulkas | "In the mythology of J. R.R. Tolkien, 'Tulkas' is one of the ainur or powers that helped shape arda or middle earth. One of the characteristics of Tulkas is that of running faster than any other creature. Liolaemus tulkas is very fast in short sprints." | [95] |
Sauroniops † Cau et al, 2012 | Dinosaur | Sauron | "The genus name is formed by Sauron, fictional character created by J.R.R. Tolkien (1892—1973), and όψη, Greek, 'eye'." | [96] |
Yavanna † Vera, 2013 | Tree fern | Yavanna | "The generic name is proposed after Yavanna, fictional character of The Silmarillion written by J.R.R. Tolkien. In Tolkien’s writings, Yavanna is a godlike entity (an Ainur), creator of the plants and animals that inhabit the Middle Earth." | [97] |
Anthracosuchus balrogus † Hastings et al, 2014 | Crocodyliform | Balrogs | "The specific term, balrogus, is named from a literary beast discovered within a deep mine, originally written by Tolkien" | [98] |
Lepanus sauroni Gunter & Weir, 2019 | Dung beetle | Sauron | "This species is named sauroni for the distinctive pygidial depression with elongate turbercle that resembles the Eye of Sauron from Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings." | [99] |
Chespiritos balrogiformis Kuwahara & Marshall, 2020 | Fly | Balrogs | "This name refers to the fifth sternite, which resembles the head of the Balrog from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings series, specifically the one represented in Peter Jackson's movie Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." | [100] |
Afrodrassex balrog Haddad & Booysen, 2022 | Ground spider | Balrogs | "In Peter Jackson’s movies based on the books, the Balrog is depicted as wielding a long whip of fire, reminiscent of the very long embolus of this species." | [101] |
Austrosphecodes balrog Gonçalves & Pereira, 2022 | Bee | Balrogs | "A tall and menacing being who can shroud itself in fire, darkness, and shadow, created by J. R. R. Tolkien." | [102] |
Saurona Huertas & Willmott, 2023 | Butterfly | Sauron | "The generic name is based on that of the main antagonist, Sauron, in J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The name alludes to the distinctive fused orange rings that encircle the VHW ocelli." | [103] |
Terataner balrog | Ant | Balrog | For the animal's "dark" lifestyle as a predator, and for its robustly armoured and horned body | [104] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gildoria Hedqvist, 1974 | Wasp | Gildor Inglorion | "Named after an eIf-leader in Tolkien: 'The Lord of the Rings'." | [105] |
Legolasia Hedqvist, 1974 | Wasp | Legolas | Now revised to Chlorocytus. | [106] |
Oxyprimus galadrielae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Galadriel | "Galadriel- (Sindarin [Elvish], radiantly garlanded woman), wise elf-queen of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion." | [69] |
Tinuviel † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Lúthien ( Tinúviel) | "Sindarin (Elvtsh) tinúviel, daughter of twilight, or nightingale, Beren's name for Lúthien in The Silmarillion'" | |
Metapheretima elrondi Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Elrond | [107] | |
Feanora De Clerck & Schockaert, 1995 | Flatworm | Fëanor | "the genus name is a derivation of a mythological personage from Tolkien's 'Silmarillion'" | [108] |
Elachista lomionella Kaila, 1997 | Moth | Maeglin (Lómion) | [109] | |
Elachista amrodella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Amrod | [71] | |
Elachista aredhella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Aredhel | ||
Elachista caranthirella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Caranthir | ||
Elachista celegormella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Celegorm | ||
Elachista curufinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Curufin | ||
Elachista daeronella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Daeron | ||
Elachista finarfinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Finarfin | ||
Elachista galadella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Galadhrim, the Silvan Elves | ||
Elachista gildorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Gildor Inglorion | ||
Elachista guilinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Guilin | ||
Elachista indisella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Indis | ||
Elachista maglorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Maglor | ||
Elachista miriella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Míriel Serindë | ||
Elachista serindella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Míriel Serindë | ||
Elachista telerella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Teleri | ||
Elachista turgonella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Turgon | ||
Gallogramma galadrieli † Garrouste et al, 2017 | Prehistoric insect | Galadriel | [110] | |
Pseudophallus galadrielae Dallevo-Gomes, Mattox, & Toledo-Piza, 2020 | Pipefish | Galadriel | "The epithet galadrielae refers to the character Galadriel in the trilogy 'The Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien. The elf ruler of Lothlórien is bearer of the ring Nenya, also known as the ring of water. It is used herein in reference to the additional bony rings diagnostic of the new species and its association with freshwater habitats." | [111] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Balinia Hedqvist, 1978 | Wasp | Balin | "named after Balin, a dwarf in Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings'." | [113] |
Gimlia Hedqvist, 1978 | Wasp | Gimli | "named after Gimli, a dwarf in Tolkien's book 'The Lord of the Rings'."
Now revised to Allocerastichus. [114] | |
Oinia Hedqvist, 1978 | Wasp | Óin | "named after Oin, a dwarf in Tolkien's book 'The Lord of the Rings'." | |
Bomburodon † (Van Valen, 1978) | Fossil mammal | Bombur | "Bombur, a fat dwarf in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to size and morphology." | [69] |
Deltatherium durini † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Durin | "Name of many dwarf-kings in The Lord of the Rings; Durin I beganKhazad-dûm. Allusion is to size." | |
Metapheretima kilii Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Kíli | [107] | |
Metapheretima dorii Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Dori | ||
Elachista ibunella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Ibûn | [71] | |
Elachista telcharella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Telchar | ||
Cacosternum thorini Conradie, 2014 | Frog | Thorin Oakenshield | "The species name is derived from Thorin II Oakenshield, a fictional character in the J.R.R. Tolkien novel ‘The Hobbit’. [...] It is widely known and accepted that Hogsback was the inspiration behind J.R.R. Tolkien's novels ‘The Hobbit’ and the ‘Lord of the Rings’ series. The name references its small size, its complicated call and the fact that it is found at the base of a large mountain in Hogsback." | [117] |
Geocharidius balini Sokolov & Kavanaugh, 2014 | Ground beetle | Balin | The specific epithet is "based on the given name of the dwarf Balin, a refounder of the underground kingdom of Moria, one of Thorin Oakenshield's Company of Dwarves who had accompanied Bilbo Baggins on the Quest of Erebor" | [118] |
Gervasiella oakenshieldi Paladini & Cavichioli, 2015 | True bug | Thorin Oakenshield | Named for the "fictional character surname of the novel The Hobbit, Thorin Oakenshield" | [119] |
Nebela gimlii Singer et al, 2015 | Testate amoebae | Gimli | "The name of this species refers to the name of Gimli, one of the dwarfs in J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece 'The Lord of the Rings', because of its small size (the smallest known member of the Nebela collaris complex) and stout shape. In addition, it has been found abundantly in a forest, and Gimli was unique among his kind to have been travelling in the woods." | [120] |
Aspidoras azaghal Tencatt et al, 2020 | Catfish | Azaghâl | "Azaghâl was the king of the Broadbeam Dwarves, one of the seven dwarf clans, and Lord of the dwarven realm of Belegost in the Blue Mountains during Middle Earth's First Age. The name comes from a double allusion, first about the region where the species was found, Terra do Meio, freely translated as 'Middle Earth' in English, [the] name of the fictional world of Tolkien's legendarium, and second by the fact that the new species occurs in a mountainous region and presents a relatively small size, which are both typical features of the fictional dwarves." | [121] |
Spaeleoleptes gimli Pereira et al., 2024 | Harvestman | Gimli | "Refers to the dwarf Gimli, one of the main characters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous novel 'The Lord of the Rings'. This name was chosen because in Tolkien’s novel the dwarves are a race associated with mining and have a strong admiration for caves. Particularly, Gimli explicitly expresses his fascination for the Glittering Caves of Aglarond with their extensive series of spectacular speleothems, and after the defeat of Sauron he was given the lordship over this marvelous cave. The intention of the specific name is to make a metaphorical association with the close relationship of this species with its subterranean habitat." | [122] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anisonchus eowynae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Éowyn | "Éowyn, woman of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings, who killed the chief of the Nazgûl and was cured of his poison by athelas.
Now revised to Anisonchus athelas. [123] |
[69] |
Paradzickia morwen Blagoderov, 1998 | Fungus gnat | Morwen | "After the character in the books of J.R.R. Tolkien." | [124] |
Paradzickia hador Blagoderov, 1998 | Fungus gnat | Hador | "After the character in the books of J.R.R. Tolkien." | |
Elachista aerinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Aerin | [71] | |
Elachista arthadella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Arthad | ||
Elachista beorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Bëor | ||
Elachista bregorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Bregor | ||
Elachista dagnirella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Dagnir | ||
Elachista eilinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Eilinel | ||
Elachista gorlimella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Gorlim | ||
Elachista haldarella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Haldar | ||
Elachista marachella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Marach | ||
Elachista morwenella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Morwen | ||
Elachista neithanella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Túrin Turambar (Neithan) | Neithan is a pseudonym of Túrin. [25] | |
Elachista nienorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Niënor | ||
Elachista ragnorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Ragnor | ||
Elachista rianella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Rían | ||
Elachista tuorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Tuor | ||
Elachista turinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Túrin Turambar |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gollum Compagno, 1973 | Shark | Gollum | [125] | |
Smeagolia (Hedqvist, 1973) | Wasp | Gollum (Sméagol) | Now revised to Muscidifurax. | [126] |
Pericompsus bilbo Erwin, 1974 | Beetle | Bilbo Baggins | "These beetles are short and robust much like Bilbo." | [127] |
Gollumiella Hedqvist, 1978 | Wasp | Gollum | [128] | |
Smeagol Climo, 1980 | Gastropod | Gollum (Sméagol) | [25] [129] | |
Syconycteris hobbit Ziegler, 1982 | Bat | Hobbits | [25] [130] | |
Paragiopagurus hobbiti (Macpherson, 1983) | Hermit crab | Hobbits | "The name hobbiti is given in allusion to the famous fictional race of small creatures created by J. R. Tolkien (hobbits) which, like the new species, dwell in burrows." | [131] |
Gollumia Riedel, 1988 | Snail | Gollum | "Nach Gollum (oder Smeagol) - ein Fabelwesen, Ausgeburt von J. R. R. TOLKIEN, geheimnisvolle und rätselhafte Kreatur, die in Dunkelheit, am liebsten unterirdisch lebte." | [132] |
Macrostyphlus bilbo Morrone, 1994 | Beetle | Bilbo Baggins | [86] | |
Macrostyphlus frodo Morrone, 1994 | Beetle | Frodo Baggins | ||
Marjumia bagginsi † Melzak & Westrop, 1994 | Trilobite | Bilbo Baggins | [133] | |
Iandumoema smeagol Pinto-da-Rocha, 1996 | Harvestman | Gollum (Sméagol) | [134] | |
Lotharingius frodoi † Mattioli, 1996 | Coccolithophore | Frodo Baggins | [135] | |
Frodospira † Wagner, 1999 | Gastropod | Frodo Baggins | [136] | |
Galaxias gollumoides McDowall & Chadderton, 1999 | Ray-finned fish | Gollum | Gollumoides means "Gollum-like". [25] | [137] |
Breviceps bagginsi Minter, 2003 | Frog | Bilbo Baggins | [138] | |
Peperomia hobbitoides Wendt | Piperaceae | Hobbits | "Peperomia hobbitoides is a small and humble plant that lives in an almost fairyland-like environment of wet karst outcrops in rain forest, and it is strongly and faithfully tied to this home substrate. Indeed, it spends perhaps the greater part of the year in holes and depressions in the rock as a resting tuber. It is edible, an attribute of high esteem among hobbits." | [139] |
Gollumjapyx smeagol Sendra & Ortuño, 2006 | Dipluran | Gollum (Sméagol) | [140] | |
Ingerophrynus gollum Grismer, 2007 | Toad | Gollum | [141] | |
Laparocerus hobbit Machado, 2008 | Beetle | Hobbits | "The specific epithet ... refers to the Hobbits ... a literary fictitious race of people who have big and hairy feet; a metaphor of the swollen and hairy tarsi characteristic of this species." | [142] |
Saurodocus hobbit Yerman & Krapp-Schickel, 2008 | Amphipod | Hobbits | "Named after the fictional small people of 'halflings' in the fantasy novels written by J. R. R. Tolkien in the traditions of a fairy tale" | [143] |
Abacophrastus hobbit Will, 2011 | Beetle | Hobbits | "an allusion to the setose dorsal surface of the tarsi, analogous to the hairy feet of Tolkien’s Hobbits" | [144] |
Shireplitis bilboi Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Bilbo Baggins | [79] | |
Shireplitis frodoi Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Frodo Baggins | ||
Shireplitis meriadoci Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Meriadoc Brandybuck | ||
Shireplitis peregrini Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Peregrin Took | ||
Shireplitis samwisei Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Samwise Gamgee | ||
Tennesseellum gollum Dupérré, 2013 | Spider | Gollum | Named "on reference to the evil persona Gollum, given the 'evil look' of the male of this species due to the large cheliceral tubercles." | [145] |
Tetramorium gollum Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2014 | Ant | Gollum | "The new species is named after the fictional character "Gollum" from J.R.R. Tolkien's novels 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings'." | [146] |
Tetramorium hobbit Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2014 | Ant | Hobbits | "This very hairy new species is named after the fictional people from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings'." | |
Ansonia smeagol Davies et al, 2016 | Toad | Gollum (Sméagol) | [147] | |
Meoneura hobbitoides (Stucke, 2016) | Fly | Hobbits | [148] | |
Aglaophenia baggins Soto Ángel & Peña Cantero, 2017 | Hydrozoan | Baggins family | [149] | |
Meoneura bilboi Stuke & Freidberg, 2017 | Fly | Bilbo Baggins | A tiny fly (length<2 mm) "dedicated to Bilbo Baggins [...] who, being an ordinary hobbit, found the ring of power in J.R.R. Tolkienʼs fantasy novel The Hobbit." | [150] |
Odontonia bagginsi de Gier & Fransen, 2018 | Shrimp | Baggins family | [151] | |
Aenigmachanna gollum Britz et al, 2019 | Labyrinth fish | Gollum | "Named after Gollum, a character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s books ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’, a creature that went underground and during its subterranean life changed its morphological features." | [152] |
Psylla frodobagginsi Martoni, 2019 | Psyllid | Frodo Baggins | [153] | |
Goniurosaurus gollum Qi et al, 2020 | Gecko | Gollum | "This new species and Gollum have similar cave-dwelling habit and emaciated body. We suggest the common name as 'Gollum Leopard Gecko'" | [154] |
Sinopesa gollum Lin & Li, 2021 | Spider | Gollum | "named after Gollum,[...] who lived in a cave, as does this new species" | [155] |
Chiloglanis frodobagginsi Schmidt, Friel, Bart & Pezold, 2023 | Catfish | Frodo Baggins | "Chiloglanis frodobagginsi is named after another diminutive traveller, Frodo Baggins" | [156] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Borophagus orc † Webb, 1969 | Fossil mammal | Orcs | "Orc = a ruthless carnivorous creature serving the forces of evil in the Third Age of Middle Earth" | [157] |
Protungulatum gorgun † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Orcs (Gorgûn) | "Etymology: Gorgûn, the Woses' name for orcs in The Lord of the Rings, with reference to the Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation" | [69] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nazgulia Hedqvist, 1973 | Wasp | Nazgûl | [126] | |
Khamul Gates, 2008 | Wasp | Khamûl, a Nazgûl | [78] | |
Tetramorium nazgul Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2012 | Ant | Nazgûl | [158] | |
Acledra nazgul Faúndez, Rider & Carvajal, 2016 | True bug | Nazgûl | "After the fictional Nazgûl characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien, who, mounted on winged creatures, could fly long distances, even on steep peaks; on the other hand, this new species has a wide distribution and dispersal capacity throughout the highlands near the Argentinean Andes, which resembles the behaviour of the Nazgûl." | [159] [160] |
Abavorana nazgul Quah et al, 2017 | Frog | Nazgûl | Named "in reference to the 'Nazgûl', characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings (1954). Also known as Ring-wraiths, they were nine men who succumbed to Sauron’s power and were transformed into white ghostly figures wearing black cloaks—the colouration that the new population being described herein shares." | [161] |
Potamalpheops nazgul Christodoulou, Iliffe & De Grave, 2019 | True shrimp | Nazgûl | "Named after J.R.R. Tolkienʼs fictional characters, the Nazgul, who dwell in the realm of shadows, akin to the habitat of this new shrimp species" | [162] |
Mischocyttarus nazgul Borges & Silveira, 2019 | Wasp | Nazgûl | "The specific epithet is a reference to the Nazgul Kings" | [163] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Entia Hedqvist (1974) | Wasp | Ents | Now revised to Boucekastichus. | [164] [165] |
Fimbrethil † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Fimbrethil, the lost wife of Treebeard | "Fimbrethil, entwife loved by Fangorn in The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to partly primate-like morphology and the disappearance of both Finbrethils." | [69] |
Unicauda fimbrethilae Rosser, 2016 | Myxozoan | Fimbrethil, the lost wife of Treebeard | [167] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beorn † Cooper, 1964 | Tardigrade | Beorn | Tardigrades or water bears are microscopic animals that look something like bears. | [168] |
Beornia Hedqvist, 1975 | Wasp | Beorn | [169] | |
Earendil † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Eärendil, a Half-elf | "Eärendil, who (in The Silmarillion) sailed with a silmaril to get the aid that defeated Morgoth." | [69] |
Mimotricentes mirielae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Tar-Míriel, a queen of Númenor | "Míriel (Quenya, Jewel-woman), Númenorian queen in The Silmarillion, forced into marriage and the loss of her throne."
Now revised to Loxolophus hyattianus. [170] | |
Protoselene bombadili † (Van Valen, 1978) | Fossil mammal | Tom Bombadil | "Tom Bombadil, the Hobbit name for a simple, powerful, and very old being. Reference is to these three traits." | |
Elachista diorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Dior Eluchíl, a Half-elf | [71] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ancalagon Conway Morris, 1977 | Priapulid | Ancalagon the Black | [171] | |
Ankalagon † (Van Valen, 1978) | Fossil mammal | Ancalagon the Black | "The mightiest dragon of Morgoth, in The Silmarillion." | [69] |
Claenodon mumak † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Mûmakil, the elephants of Middle-earth | "Mûmakil name used in Ithilien for the animal hobbits called an oliphaunt, resembling a large elephant. Reference is to size." | |
Desmatoclaenus mearae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Mearas, the horses of Rohan | "Meara, any one of the great horses of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings." | |
Gwaihiria Naumann, 1982 | Wasp | Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles | [172] | |
Amphiledorus ungoliantae Pekár & Cardoso, 2005 | Spider | Ungoliant | Ungoliant is a giant spider. | [173] |
Nemesia ungoliant Decae, Cardoso & Selden, 2007 | Spider | Ungoliant | [174] | |
Liolaemus smaug Abdala et al, 2010 | Lizard | Smaug | "In Tolkien’s mythology Smaug, the Golden, is the last of the Middle Earth dragons. The name Liolaemus smaug is because this new species exhibit a golden coloration on body." | [175] |
Smaug Stanley et al, 2011 | Lizard | Smaug | [176] | |
Tetramorium smaug Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2012 | Ant | Smaug | [158] | |
Pycnophyes smaug Sánchez et al, 2013 | Kinorhynch | Smaug | "The species name smaug, refers to the dragon Smaug, the greatest and most powerful in the later part of the Third Age in the books of J.R.R. Tolkien." | [177] |
Glaurung † Bulanov & Sennikov, 2015 | Weigeltisaurid | Glaurung | [178] | |
Planois smaug Carvajal, Faúndez & Rider, 2015 | True bug | Smaug | [179] [180] | |
Tamolia ancalagon Carvajal et al, 2015 | True bug | Ancalagon the Black | Named "for Ancalagon the Black, the largest dragon in J. R. R. Tokien’s universe; because of the dark coloration and aspect of this new species, as well as its size compared to many other heteropterans." | [181] |
Cristaphyes glaurung Sørensen & Grzelak, 2018 | Kinorhynch | Glaurung | [182] | |
Cristaphyes scatha Sørensen & Grzelak, 2018 | Kinorhynch | Scatha the Worm | ||
Ochyrocera laracna Brescovit, Cizauskas & Mota, 2018 | Spider | Shelob | "Laracna" is Shelob's name in Portuguese | [183] |
Ochyrocera ungoliant Brescovit, Cizauskas & Mota, 2018 | Spider | Ungoliant | ||
Pycnophyes ancalagon Sørensen & Grzelak, 2018 | Kinorhynch | Ancalagon the Black | [182] | |
Rhabdias glaurungi Willkens et al., 2020 | Roundworm | Glaurung | This species is named after the fictional character ‘Glaurung’, the first of the Dragons from ‘The Silmarillion’ | [184] |
Cnemaspis smaug Pal et al, 2021 | Gecko | Smaug | "The species is named after "Smaug", the dragon from J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel, The Hobbit. The name is derived from the old German verb 'smeuganan' meaning "to creep" or "to squeeze through a hole". The type specimens of this species were found within crevices of rocks and boulders inside the forest. Additionally, like dragons, the dorsum is armoured with large conical tubercles." | [185] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anisonchus athelas † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Athelas, a plant | "Sindarin (Elvish) athelas, kingsfoil, a healing plant in The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to the joining of phylogenies." | [69] |
Earendil undomiel † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Undómiel | "Quenya (Elvish) undómiel, evening star, which Eärendil with his silmaril became." | |
Fimbrethil ambaronae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Fangorn (also named Ambaróna) | "Quenya (Elvish) Ambaróna, one of Fangorn's shorter names for his forest. Reference is to the dimness of the forest and of the affinities of this species."
Now revised to Oxyacodon agapetillus. [186] | |
Litaletes ondolinde † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Gondolin (also named Ondolindë) | "Quenya (elvish) ondo, rock, and lindë, song. Reference is to Rock Bench and to the hidden city Ondolindë or Gondolin of The Silmarillion. The Rock Bench specimens and others were formerly as hidden (and unsorted)." | |
Niphredil † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Niphredil, a flower | "Sindarin (Elvish) niphredil, white-flowering forb of open woods in Neldoreth and Lothlorien." | |
Platymastus palantir † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Palantir | "Quenya (Elvish) palantir, distant watcher, one of 7 globes made by Fëanor that gave visions through spacetime. Reference is to the long duration of the genus." | |
Thangorodrim † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Thangorodrim | "Thangorodrim, the mountainous triple fortress of Morgoth in The Silmarillion. Reference is to Purgatory Hill."
Now revised to Oxyclaenus. [187] | |
Metapheretima andurili Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Andúril, sword reforged by Aragorn | [107] | |
Metapheretima stingi Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Sting, Bilbo and Frodo's dagger | ||
Metapheretima orcrista Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Orcrist, Thorin Oakenshield's sword | ||
Metapheretima glamdringi Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Glamdring, Gandalf's sword | ||
Pseudopallenis palantir Kolibáč, 1997 | Beetle | Palantir | [188] | |
Asthenodipsas lasgalenensis Loredo et al, 2013 | Snake | Mirkwood (also named Eryn Lasgalen) | "The specific epithet lasgalenensis is derived from the name Eryn Lasgalen which means in the "Wood of Greenleaves" in the fictional Sindarian language from J.R.R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1955). It was the name used by the Wood Elves for the Mirkwood Forest after its cleansing following the War of the Ring. This name was chosen because Tolkien's (1955) description of this forest showed great similarity to the cloudy, upland forests within which this species is found." | [189] |
Shireplitis Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | The Shire | "[T]he genus is endemic to New Zealand, where a human replicate of The Shire is built". | [79] |
Lopholatilus ereborensis † Carnevale & Godfrey, 2014 | Tilefish | Erebor, the Lonely Mountain | [145] | |
Desmia mordor Landry & Solis, 2016 | Moth | Mordor | The specific name "means ‘Black Land’ in Sindarin, a fictional language used in The Lord of the Rings, the epic high-fantasy novel written by English author J. R. R. Tolkien [...] Mordor is volcanic and partly arid, like the Galápagos." | [190] |
Arctoceras erebori † Piazza, 2017 | Ammonoid | Erebor, the Lonely Mountain | [191] | |
Astyanax lorien Zanata, Burger & Camelier, 2018 | Ray-finned fish | Lothlórien | lorien, from the Quenya language meaning "Dream Land", used in allusion to the "beautiful areas" inhabited by the Brazilian species | [192] |
Acantopsis bruinen Boyd et al., 2018 | Ray-finned fish | River Bruinen, "Loudwater" | Specific epithet bruinen for the Loudwater of Rivendell and the flood that took the form of great horses, alluding to the common name “horseface loach” for the genus | [193] |
Cristaphyes dordaidelosensis Sørensen & Grzelak, 2018 | Kinorhynch | Dor Daidelos | "The species name dordaidelosensis, meaning 'living in Dor Daidelos,' is inspired by the book Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien. According to the book, Dor Daidelos is 'The Region of Everlasting Cold' and the northernmost region of Middle Earth in the First Age." | [182] |
Uroplatus fangorn Ratsoavina et al, Scherz, 2020 | Gecko | Fangorn | "The species epithet fangorn is [...] derived from the name of a deep, dark woodland in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. [...] We use this name in reference not only to the similarities between Fangorn forest and the forests in which the new species occurs, but also to the tree-like appearance of Uroplatus geckos, which make them seem like the 'tree spirits' that are Tolkien’s Ents (Flieger 2013)." | [194] |
Hyperlais orodruinella Korb, Gorbunov & Melyakh, 2023 | Moth | Orodruin (Mount Doom) | "We name the new species after Mount Orodruin. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the One Ring was forged on Mount Orodruin by the Dark Lord Sauron. The name shows the characteristic feature of the moth: black triangular wings with a yellow suffusion in the basal part, resembling a dark volcano with an erupting top" | [195] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aletodon mellon † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | mellon | "Sindarin (Elvish) mellon, friend, the password of the west gate of Khazad-dûm in The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to similarly to P. palantir, presumptive diet of plants" | [69] |
Chriacus calenancus † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | calen, anca | "Sindarin (Elvish) calen, green; anca, Jaws. Reference is to inferred herbivory" | |
Litomylus alphamon † Van Valen 1978 | Fossil mammal | alph, amon | "Sindarin (Elvish) alph, swan, and amon, hill. Reference is to the locality"
Now revised to Litocherus lacunatus. [196] | |
Mimatuta minuial † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | minuial | "Sindarin (Elvish) minuial, the time at dawn when the stars fade. Reference is to the dawn of the Cenozoic and the fading of the Mesozoic stars." | |
Thangorodrim thalion † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | thalion | "Sindarin (Elvish) thalion, strong. Reference is to the massive morphology of the jaws and the generic name"
Now revised to Oxyclaenus pugnax. [197] | |
Elachista aranella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | aran- | "E. aranella seems to owe its name to aran-, the 'royal prefix used by the Kings of Arthedain after Malvegil and by the Chieftains of the Dúnedain of the North to indicate their claim to all of Arnor'". [198] | [71] |
Helicops nentur Costa et al, 2016 | Snake | nen, tur | "The name nentur is formed by the ( Quenya) words nen (water) and tur (ruler, master)," referencing the aquatic habits of the species | [199] |
Hylaeus mellon Dathe and Proshchalykin, 2016 | Bee | mellon | "mellon (High Elvish [Sindarin]): friend" | [200] |
Epimeria anguloce d’Acoz & Verheye, 2017 | Amphipod | angulócë | "Angulócë, dragon — Tolkien’s Quenya language ( Faulskanger 2008). The name, which is a noun in apposition, alludes to the dragon-like facies of the species." | [201] |
Thiodina perian Bustamante & Ruiz, 2017 | Jumping spider | perian | "The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the fictional language Sindarin created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Sindarin is one of the languages spoken by the Elves. The word 'perian' is translated as 'small' and was used to refer to the Hobbits, the smaller kind of Middle Earth; in reference to its small size, to date the smallest thiodinine ever discovered" | [202] |
Vanima Zacca, Casagrande & Mielke, 2020 | Butterfly | vanima | In Quenya (elvish) vanima means beautiful | [203] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aspidoras psammatides Britto, Lima & Santos, 2005 | Catfish | Psamathos Psamathides, Roverandom | "Psammatides, after 'Psammatos psammatides' [ sic], 'the sand sorcerer', a character of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book 'Roverandom', from the Greek psammos, sand, and ides, son of. In allusion to the sand-dwelling behavior of the species." | [204] |
She was also renamed in honour of the British author JRR Tolkien.
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The British author J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) and the names of fictional characters and places he invented for his legendarium have had a substantial impact on culture, and have become the namesakes of various things around and outside the world, including street names, mountains, companies, species of animals and plants, asteroids, and other notable objects.
By convention, certain classes of features on Saturn's moon Titan are named after elements from Middle-earth. [15] Colles (small hills or knobs) are named for characters, [16] while montes (mountains) are named for mountains of Middle-earth. [17]
Collis [16] | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Named after |
---|---|---|---|
Arwen Colles | 7°30′S 250°00′W / 7.5°S 250.0°W | 64 | Arwen, character from The Lord of the Rings |
Bilbo Colles | 4°12′S 38°36′W / 4.2°S 38.6°W | 164 | Bilbo Baggins, titular character of The Hobbit |
Faramir Colles | 4°00′N 153°48′W / 4.0°N 153.8°W | 82 | Faramir, character from The Lord of the Rings |
Gandalf Colles | 14°36′N 209°30′W / 14.6°N 209.5°W | 102 | Gandalf, character from The Lord of the Rings |
Handir Colles | 10°00′N 356°42′W / 10.0°N 356.7°W | 100 | Handir, character from The Silmarillion |
Nimloth Colles | 11°54′N 151°18′W / 11.9°N 151.3°W | 90 | Nimloth, name of a character and a tree from Middle-earth |
A crater adjacent the planet's north pole, Tolkien, is named after the eponymous author.
Various maculae on Pluto and Charon are unofficially named after subjects in Middle Earth.
Maculae | Object | Coordinates | Named after |
---|---|---|---|
Balrog Macula | Pluto | 10°S 80°W / 10°S 80°W | Balrog, a race of demons from the mythos. [18] [19] |
Mordor Macula | Charon | 80°N 00°W / 80°N -0°E | Mordor [20] [21] It is named after the shadow lands in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, which it resembles in shape. [22] |
Morgoth Macula | Pluto | 20°S 172°E / 20°S 172°E | Morgoth, the dark lord of Arda and the main antagonist up to the First Age. |
Several undersea features in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Ireland and south of Iceland, [40] including:
At least three seamounts in the Indian Ocean, including: [47]
The "Tolkien Road" in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was named after Tolkien whereas the "Tolkien Way" in Stoke-on-Trent is named after Tolkien's eldest son, Fr. John Francis Tolkien, who was the priest in charge at the nearby Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Angels and St. Peter in Chains. [59] In the Hall Green and Moseley areas of Birmingham, parks and walkways are dedicated to J. R. R. Tolkien, especially at the Millstream Way and Moseley Bog. [60] Collectively the parks are known as the Shire Country Parks. [60] In Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England there is a collection of roads in the 'Weston Village' named after locales of Middle Earth, namely Hobbiton Road, Bree Close, Arnor Close, Rivendell, Westmarch Way and Buckland Green. [61]
In the Dutch town of Geldrop, near Eindhoven, the streets of an entire new neighbourhood are named after Tolkien himself ("Laan van Tolkien") and some of the best-known characters from his books. [62]
Two streets at Warsaw, Poland were named in 2022 after J.R.R. Tolkien and Gandalf. Both streets are located at neighbourhood commonly called Mordor. [63]
The Bend, Oregon housing development Forest Creek (formerly "The Shire") features the Tolkien-inspired names Ring Bearer Court, Shire Lane, and Wizard Lane. [64] One of the student housing complexes at the University of California, Irvine is named Middle Earth; its halls and other facilities were selected from Tolkien's legendarium. [65]
In the Silicon Valley towns of Saratoga and San Jose in California, there are two housing developments with street names drawn from Tolkien's works. About a dozen Tolkien-derived street names also appear scattered throughout the town of Lake Forest, California. The Columbia, Maryland, neighbourhood of Hobbit's Glen and its street names (including Rivendell Lane, Tooks Way, and Oakenshield Circle) come from Tolkien's works. [66]
It has been noted that "Tolkien has been accorded formal taxonomic commemoration like no other author." [67] In the field of taxonomy, over 200 taxa (genera and species) have been given scientific names honouring, or deriving from, characters or other fictional elements from The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and other works set in Middle-earth. [25]
Several taxa have been named after the character Gollum (also known as Sméagol), as well as for various hobbits, the small humanlike creatures such as Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Various elves, dwarves, and other creatures that appear in his writings. Tolkien himself has been honoured in the names of several species. In 1978, paleontologist Leigh Van Valen named over 20 taxa of extinct mammals after Tolkien lore in a single paper. [68] [69] The entomologist Karl-Johan Hedqvist, also a fan of Tolkien, named several wasp genera after Tolkien's characters. [70] In 1999, entomologist Lauri Kaila described 46 new species of Elachista moths and named 38 of them after Tolkien mythology. [25] [71]
In 2004, the extinct hominid Homo floresiensis was described, and quickly earned the nickname "hobbit" due to its small size. [72]
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Martesia tolkieni Kennedy, 1974 | Clam | J. R. R. Tolkien | "The name tolkieni honors the late J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and many delightful creatures of long ago in the time of Middle-earth." | [73] |
Leucothoe tolkieni Vinogradov, 1990 | Amphipod | J. R. R. Tolkien | [74] [75] | |
Gabrius tolkieni Schillhammer 1997 | Beetle | J. R. R. Tolkien | [76] | |
Tolkienia † Lieberman & Kloc, 1997 | Trilobite | J. R. R. Tolkien | A genus of Devonian trilobites that has been found in Spain, France and the United States. | [77] |
Khamul tolkeini Gates, 2008 | Wasp | J. R. R. Tolkien | "named in honor of J. R. R. Tolkein [ sic] for his profound impact on the fantasy literature genre." | [78] |
Shireplitis tolkieni Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | J. R. R. Tolkien | [79] | |
Drassodella tolkieni Mbo et al, 2019 | Spider | J. R. R. Tolkien | "Named after John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, who was born in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa on 3rd January 1892 and died on 2nd September 1973. He is internationally recognised for his authorship of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, amongst other works. His fictional 'Middle Earth' is believed to have been inspired in part by the exceptional natural scenery of Hogsback, the type locality of this species." | [80] |
Hyloscirtus tolkieni Sánchez-Nivicela et al, 2023 | Frog | J. R. R. Tolkien | "The specific epithet tolkieni is in honour of the writer, poet, philologist, and academic John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892–1973), creator of Middle-earth and author of fantasy works like “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”. The amazing colours of the new species evoke the magnificent creatures that seem to only exist in fantasy worlds."; "In a stream in the forest there lived a Hyloscirtus. Not a nasty, dirty stream, with spoor of contamination and a muddy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy stream with nothing in it to perch on or to eat: it was a Hyloscirtus-stream, and that means environmental quality." | [81] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Macropsidius sauroni (Hamilton, 1972) | Leafhopper | Sauron | [82] [83] | |
Balrogia Hedqvist, 1977 | Wasp | Balrogs | "The new genus is named after a monster called Balrog in Tolkin's book 'The Lord of the Rings'." | [84] |
Mimatuta morgoth † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Morgoth | "Fëanor's name for Melkor, the power-lustful Vala of The Silmarillion. Reference is to the Hell Creek Formation." | [69] |
Mithrandir † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Gandalf (Mithrandir) | "Mithrandir (Sindarin, gray wanderer), Elvish name for Olorin, wisest of the Istari in The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to the subtleness of the differences between the subgenera." | |
Niphredil radagasti † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Radagast | "Radagast, naturalist of the Istari in The Lord of the Rings." | |
Helferella gothmogoides Williams & Weir, 1988 | Beetle | Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs | "The species name is derived from Gothmog, a commander within the evil host of Mordor, and oides, latin suffix signifying 'resembling'." | [85] |
Macrostyphlus gandalf Morrone, 1994 | Beetle | Gandalf | [86] | |
Semicytherura balrogi Brouwers, 1994 | Ostracod | Balrogs | "After the Balrog, an evil character in J.R.R. Tolkien's adventures of Middle Earth" | [87] |
Semicytherura tauronae Brouwers, 1994 | Ostracod | Oromë (Tauron) | "After Tauron, a character in J.R.R. Tolkien's adventures of Middle Earth." | |
Sauron Eskov, 1995 | Spider | Sauron | The zoologist Kirill Eskov, author of The Last Ringbearer, a retelling of The Lord of the Rings from Mordor's point of view, has named a genus of linyphiid sheet weaver spiders Sauron after the ruler of Mordor. [88] | [89] |
Elachista olorinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Gandalf (Olórin) | From Gandalf's alternate name Olórin | [71] |
Elachista tauronella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Oromë (Tauron) | ||
Paraortygoides radagasti † Dyke & Gulas, 2002 | Bird | Radagast | "For the wizard of Middle Earth, Radagast the Brown, rabid communicator with birds" | [90] |
Gandalfia Willems et al, 2005 | Flatworm | Gandalf | [91] | |
Litoria sauroni Richards & Oliver, 2006 | Frog | Sauron | "From the character Sauron, referred to as 'the eye' in Tolkien’s 'The Lord of the Rings', in reference to the striking red and black mottled eye of this taxon." | [92] |
Gandalfus McLay, 2007 | Crab | Gandalf | "Gandalfus is derived from the name of the omnipotent 'Gandalf', a character in J. R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings', which was made into a film by Peter Jackson, in New Zealand, the home of the type species." | [93] |
Khamul gothmogi Gates, 2008 | Wasp | Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs | "named in honor of Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs, High Captain of Angband" | [94] |
Liolaemus tulkas Quinteros et al, 2008 | Lizard | Tulkas | "In the mythology of J. R.R. Tolkien, 'Tulkas' is one of the ainur or powers that helped shape arda or middle earth. One of the characteristics of Tulkas is that of running faster than any other creature. Liolaemus tulkas is very fast in short sprints." | [95] |
Sauroniops † Cau et al, 2012 | Dinosaur | Sauron | "The genus name is formed by Sauron, fictional character created by J.R.R. Tolkien (1892—1973), and όψη, Greek, 'eye'." | [96] |
Yavanna † Vera, 2013 | Tree fern | Yavanna | "The generic name is proposed after Yavanna, fictional character of The Silmarillion written by J.R.R. Tolkien. In Tolkien’s writings, Yavanna is a godlike entity (an Ainur), creator of the plants and animals that inhabit the Middle Earth." | [97] |
Anthracosuchus balrogus † Hastings et al, 2014 | Crocodyliform | Balrogs | "The specific term, balrogus, is named from a literary beast discovered within a deep mine, originally written by Tolkien" | [98] |
Lepanus sauroni Gunter & Weir, 2019 | Dung beetle | Sauron | "This species is named sauroni for the distinctive pygidial depression with elongate turbercle that resembles the Eye of Sauron from Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings." | [99] |
Chespiritos balrogiformis Kuwahara & Marshall, 2020 | Fly | Balrogs | "This name refers to the fifth sternite, which resembles the head of the Balrog from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings series, specifically the one represented in Peter Jackson's movie Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." | [100] |
Afrodrassex balrog Haddad & Booysen, 2022 | Ground spider | Balrogs | "In Peter Jackson’s movies based on the books, the Balrog is depicted as wielding a long whip of fire, reminiscent of the very long embolus of this species." | [101] |
Austrosphecodes balrog Gonçalves & Pereira, 2022 | Bee | Balrogs | "A tall and menacing being who can shroud itself in fire, darkness, and shadow, created by J. R. R. Tolkien." | [102] |
Saurona Huertas & Willmott, 2023 | Butterfly | Sauron | "The generic name is based on that of the main antagonist, Sauron, in J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The name alludes to the distinctive fused orange rings that encircle the VHW ocelli." | [103] |
Terataner balrog | Ant | Balrog | For the animal's "dark" lifestyle as a predator, and for its robustly armoured and horned body | [104] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gildoria Hedqvist, 1974 | Wasp | Gildor Inglorion | "Named after an eIf-leader in Tolkien: 'The Lord of the Rings'." | [105] |
Legolasia Hedqvist, 1974 | Wasp | Legolas | Now revised to Chlorocytus. | [106] |
Oxyprimus galadrielae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Galadriel | "Galadriel- (Sindarin [Elvish], radiantly garlanded woman), wise elf-queen of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion." | [69] |
Tinuviel † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Lúthien ( Tinúviel) | "Sindarin (Elvtsh) tinúviel, daughter of twilight, or nightingale, Beren's name for Lúthien in The Silmarillion'" | |
Metapheretima elrondi Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Elrond | [107] | |
Feanora De Clerck & Schockaert, 1995 | Flatworm | Fëanor | "the genus name is a derivation of a mythological personage from Tolkien's 'Silmarillion'" | [108] |
Elachista lomionella Kaila, 1997 | Moth | Maeglin (Lómion) | [109] | |
Elachista amrodella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Amrod | [71] | |
Elachista aredhella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Aredhel | ||
Elachista caranthirella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Caranthir | ||
Elachista celegormella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Celegorm | ||
Elachista curufinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Curufin | ||
Elachista daeronella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Daeron | ||
Elachista finarfinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Finarfin | ||
Elachista galadella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Galadhrim, the Silvan Elves | ||
Elachista gildorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Gildor Inglorion | ||
Elachista guilinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Guilin | ||
Elachista indisella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Indis | ||
Elachista maglorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Maglor | ||
Elachista miriella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Míriel Serindë | ||
Elachista serindella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Míriel Serindë | ||
Elachista telerella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Teleri | ||
Elachista turgonella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Turgon | ||
Gallogramma galadrieli † Garrouste et al, 2017 | Prehistoric insect | Galadriel | [110] | |
Pseudophallus galadrielae Dallevo-Gomes, Mattox, & Toledo-Piza, 2020 | Pipefish | Galadriel | "The epithet galadrielae refers to the character Galadriel in the trilogy 'The Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien. The elf ruler of Lothlórien is bearer of the ring Nenya, also known as the ring of water. It is used herein in reference to the additional bony rings diagnostic of the new species and its association with freshwater habitats." | [111] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Balinia Hedqvist, 1978 | Wasp | Balin | "named after Balin, a dwarf in Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings'." | [113] |
Gimlia Hedqvist, 1978 | Wasp | Gimli | "named after Gimli, a dwarf in Tolkien's book 'The Lord of the Rings'."
Now revised to Allocerastichus. [114] | |
Oinia Hedqvist, 1978 | Wasp | Óin | "named after Oin, a dwarf in Tolkien's book 'The Lord of the Rings'." | |
Bomburodon † (Van Valen, 1978) | Fossil mammal | Bombur | "Bombur, a fat dwarf in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to size and morphology." | [69] |
Deltatherium durini † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Durin | "Name of many dwarf-kings in The Lord of the Rings; Durin I beganKhazad-dûm. Allusion is to size." | |
Metapheretima kilii Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Kíli | [107] | |
Metapheretima dorii Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Dori | ||
Elachista ibunella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Ibûn | [71] | |
Elachista telcharella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Telchar | ||
Cacosternum thorini Conradie, 2014 | Frog | Thorin Oakenshield | "The species name is derived from Thorin II Oakenshield, a fictional character in the J.R.R. Tolkien novel ‘The Hobbit’. [...] It is widely known and accepted that Hogsback was the inspiration behind J.R.R. Tolkien's novels ‘The Hobbit’ and the ‘Lord of the Rings’ series. The name references its small size, its complicated call and the fact that it is found at the base of a large mountain in Hogsback." | [117] |
Geocharidius balini Sokolov & Kavanaugh, 2014 | Ground beetle | Balin | The specific epithet is "based on the given name of the dwarf Balin, a refounder of the underground kingdom of Moria, one of Thorin Oakenshield's Company of Dwarves who had accompanied Bilbo Baggins on the Quest of Erebor" | [118] |
Gervasiella oakenshieldi Paladini & Cavichioli, 2015 | True bug | Thorin Oakenshield | Named for the "fictional character surname of the novel The Hobbit, Thorin Oakenshield" | [119] |
Nebela gimlii Singer et al, 2015 | Testate amoebae | Gimli | "The name of this species refers to the name of Gimli, one of the dwarfs in J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece 'The Lord of the Rings', because of its small size (the smallest known member of the Nebela collaris complex) and stout shape. In addition, it has been found abundantly in a forest, and Gimli was unique among his kind to have been travelling in the woods." | [120] |
Aspidoras azaghal Tencatt et al, 2020 | Catfish | Azaghâl | "Azaghâl was the king of the Broadbeam Dwarves, one of the seven dwarf clans, and Lord of the dwarven realm of Belegost in the Blue Mountains during Middle Earth's First Age. The name comes from a double allusion, first about the region where the species was found, Terra do Meio, freely translated as 'Middle Earth' in English, [the] name of the fictional world of Tolkien's legendarium, and second by the fact that the new species occurs in a mountainous region and presents a relatively small size, which are both typical features of the fictional dwarves." | [121] |
Spaeleoleptes gimli Pereira et al., 2024 | Harvestman | Gimli | "Refers to the dwarf Gimli, one of the main characters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous novel 'The Lord of the Rings'. This name was chosen because in Tolkien’s novel the dwarves are a race associated with mining and have a strong admiration for caves. Particularly, Gimli explicitly expresses his fascination for the Glittering Caves of Aglarond with their extensive series of spectacular speleothems, and after the defeat of Sauron he was given the lordship over this marvelous cave. The intention of the specific name is to make a metaphorical association with the close relationship of this species with its subterranean habitat." | [122] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anisonchus eowynae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Éowyn | "Éowyn, woman of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings, who killed the chief of the Nazgûl and was cured of his poison by athelas.
Now revised to Anisonchus athelas. [123] |
[69] |
Paradzickia morwen Blagoderov, 1998 | Fungus gnat | Morwen | "After the character in the books of J.R.R. Tolkien." | [124] |
Paradzickia hador Blagoderov, 1998 | Fungus gnat | Hador | "After the character in the books of J.R.R. Tolkien." | |
Elachista aerinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Aerin | [71] | |
Elachista arthadella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Arthad | ||
Elachista beorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Bëor | ||
Elachista bregorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Bregor | ||
Elachista dagnirella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Dagnir | ||
Elachista eilinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Eilinel | ||
Elachista gorlimella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Gorlim | ||
Elachista haldarella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Haldar | ||
Elachista marachella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Marach | ||
Elachista morwenella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Morwen | ||
Elachista neithanella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Túrin Turambar (Neithan) | Neithan is a pseudonym of Túrin. [25] | |
Elachista nienorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Niënor | ||
Elachista ragnorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Ragnor | ||
Elachista rianella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Rían | ||
Elachista tuorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Tuor | ||
Elachista turinella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Túrin Turambar |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gollum Compagno, 1973 | Shark | Gollum | [125] | |
Smeagolia (Hedqvist, 1973) | Wasp | Gollum (Sméagol) | Now revised to Muscidifurax. | [126] |
Pericompsus bilbo Erwin, 1974 | Beetle | Bilbo Baggins | "These beetles are short and robust much like Bilbo." | [127] |
Gollumiella Hedqvist, 1978 | Wasp | Gollum | [128] | |
Smeagol Climo, 1980 | Gastropod | Gollum (Sméagol) | [25] [129] | |
Syconycteris hobbit Ziegler, 1982 | Bat | Hobbits | [25] [130] | |
Paragiopagurus hobbiti (Macpherson, 1983) | Hermit crab | Hobbits | "The name hobbiti is given in allusion to the famous fictional race of small creatures created by J. R. Tolkien (hobbits) which, like the new species, dwell in burrows." | [131] |
Gollumia Riedel, 1988 | Snail | Gollum | "Nach Gollum (oder Smeagol) - ein Fabelwesen, Ausgeburt von J. R. R. TOLKIEN, geheimnisvolle und rätselhafte Kreatur, die in Dunkelheit, am liebsten unterirdisch lebte." | [132] |
Macrostyphlus bilbo Morrone, 1994 | Beetle | Bilbo Baggins | [86] | |
Macrostyphlus frodo Morrone, 1994 | Beetle | Frodo Baggins | ||
Marjumia bagginsi † Melzak & Westrop, 1994 | Trilobite | Bilbo Baggins | [133] | |
Iandumoema smeagol Pinto-da-Rocha, 1996 | Harvestman | Gollum (Sméagol) | [134] | |
Lotharingius frodoi † Mattioli, 1996 | Coccolithophore | Frodo Baggins | [135] | |
Frodospira † Wagner, 1999 | Gastropod | Frodo Baggins | [136] | |
Galaxias gollumoides McDowall & Chadderton, 1999 | Ray-finned fish | Gollum | Gollumoides means "Gollum-like". [25] | [137] |
Breviceps bagginsi Minter, 2003 | Frog | Bilbo Baggins | [138] | |
Peperomia hobbitoides Wendt | Piperaceae | Hobbits | "Peperomia hobbitoides is a small and humble plant that lives in an almost fairyland-like environment of wet karst outcrops in rain forest, and it is strongly and faithfully tied to this home substrate. Indeed, it spends perhaps the greater part of the year in holes and depressions in the rock as a resting tuber. It is edible, an attribute of high esteem among hobbits." | [139] |
Gollumjapyx smeagol Sendra & Ortuño, 2006 | Dipluran | Gollum (Sméagol) | [140] | |
Ingerophrynus gollum Grismer, 2007 | Toad | Gollum | [141] | |
Laparocerus hobbit Machado, 2008 | Beetle | Hobbits | "The specific epithet ... refers to the Hobbits ... a literary fictitious race of people who have big and hairy feet; a metaphor of the swollen and hairy tarsi characteristic of this species." | [142] |
Saurodocus hobbit Yerman & Krapp-Schickel, 2008 | Amphipod | Hobbits | "Named after the fictional small people of 'halflings' in the fantasy novels written by J. R. R. Tolkien in the traditions of a fairy tale" | [143] |
Abacophrastus hobbit Will, 2011 | Beetle | Hobbits | "an allusion to the setose dorsal surface of the tarsi, analogous to the hairy feet of Tolkien’s Hobbits" | [144] |
Shireplitis bilboi Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Bilbo Baggins | [79] | |
Shireplitis frodoi Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Frodo Baggins | ||
Shireplitis meriadoci Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Meriadoc Brandybuck | ||
Shireplitis peregrini Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Peregrin Took | ||
Shireplitis samwisei Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | Samwise Gamgee | ||
Tennesseellum gollum Dupérré, 2013 | Spider | Gollum | Named "on reference to the evil persona Gollum, given the 'evil look' of the male of this species due to the large cheliceral tubercles." | [145] |
Tetramorium gollum Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2014 | Ant | Gollum | "The new species is named after the fictional character "Gollum" from J.R.R. Tolkien's novels 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings'." | [146] |
Tetramorium hobbit Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2014 | Ant | Hobbits | "This very hairy new species is named after the fictional people from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings'." | |
Ansonia smeagol Davies et al, 2016 | Toad | Gollum (Sméagol) | [147] | |
Meoneura hobbitoides (Stucke, 2016) | Fly | Hobbits | [148] | |
Aglaophenia baggins Soto Ángel & Peña Cantero, 2017 | Hydrozoan | Baggins family | [149] | |
Meoneura bilboi Stuke & Freidberg, 2017 | Fly | Bilbo Baggins | A tiny fly (length<2 mm) "dedicated to Bilbo Baggins [...] who, being an ordinary hobbit, found the ring of power in J.R.R. Tolkienʼs fantasy novel The Hobbit." | [150] |
Odontonia bagginsi de Gier & Fransen, 2018 | Shrimp | Baggins family | [151] | |
Aenigmachanna gollum Britz et al, 2019 | Labyrinth fish | Gollum | "Named after Gollum, a character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s books ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’, a creature that went underground and during its subterranean life changed its morphological features." | [152] |
Psylla frodobagginsi Martoni, 2019 | Psyllid | Frodo Baggins | [153] | |
Goniurosaurus gollum Qi et al, 2020 | Gecko | Gollum | "This new species and Gollum have similar cave-dwelling habit and emaciated body. We suggest the common name as 'Gollum Leopard Gecko'" | [154] |
Sinopesa gollum Lin & Li, 2021 | Spider | Gollum | "named after Gollum,[...] who lived in a cave, as does this new species" | [155] |
Chiloglanis frodobagginsi Schmidt, Friel, Bart & Pezold, 2023 | Catfish | Frodo Baggins | "Chiloglanis frodobagginsi is named after another diminutive traveller, Frodo Baggins" | [156] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Borophagus orc † Webb, 1969 | Fossil mammal | Orcs | "Orc = a ruthless carnivorous creature serving the forces of evil in the Third Age of Middle Earth" | [157] |
Protungulatum gorgun † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Orcs (Gorgûn) | "Etymology: Gorgûn, the Woses' name for orcs in The Lord of the Rings, with reference to the Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation" | [69] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nazgulia Hedqvist, 1973 | Wasp | Nazgûl | [126] | |
Khamul Gates, 2008 | Wasp | Khamûl, a Nazgûl | [78] | |
Tetramorium nazgul Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2012 | Ant | Nazgûl | [158] | |
Acledra nazgul Faúndez, Rider & Carvajal, 2016 | True bug | Nazgûl | "After the fictional Nazgûl characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien, who, mounted on winged creatures, could fly long distances, even on steep peaks; on the other hand, this new species has a wide distribution and dispersal capacity throughout the highlands near the Argentinean Andes, which resembles the behaviour of the Nazgûl." | [159] [160] |
Abavorana nazgul Quah et al, 2017 | Frog | Nazgûl | Named "in reference to the 'Nazgûl', characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings (1954). Also known as Ring-wraiths, they were nine men who succumbed to Sauron’s power and were transformed into white ghostly figures wearing black cloaks—the colouration that the new population being described herein shares." | [161] |
Potamalpheops nazgul Christodoulou, Iliffe & De Grave, 2019 | True shrimp | Nazgûl | "Named after J.R.R. Tolkienʼs fictional characters, the Nazgul, who dwell in the realm of shadows, akin to the habitat of this new shrimp species" | [162] |
Mischocyttarus nazgul Borges & Silveira, 2019 | Wasp | Nazgûl | "The specific epithet is a reference to the Nazgul Kings" | [163] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Entia Hedqvist (1974) | Wasp | Ents | Now revised to Boucekastichus. | [164] [165] |
Fimbrethil † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Fimbrethil, the lost wife of Treebeard | "Fimbrethil, entwife loved by Fangorn in The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to partly primate-like morphology and the disappearance of both Finbrethils." | [69] |
Unicauda fimbrethilae Rosser, 2016 | Myxozoan | Fimbrethil, the lost wife of Treebeard | [167] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beorn † Cooper, 1964 | Tardigrade | Beorn | Tardigrades or water bears are microscopic animals that look something like bears. | [168] |
Beornia Hedqvist, 1975 | Wasp | Beorn | [169] | |
Earendil † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Eärendil, a Half-elf | "Eärendil, who (in The Silmarillion) sailed with a silmaril to get the aid that defeated Morgoth." | [69] |
Mimotricentes mirielae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Tar-Míriel, a queen of Númenor | "Míriel (Quenya, Jewel-woman), Númenorian queen in The Silmarillion, forced into marriage and the loss of her throne."
Now revised to Loxolophus hyattianus. [170] | |
Protoselene bombadili † (Van Valen, 1978) | Fossil mammal | Tom Bombadil | "Tom Bombadil, the Hobbit name for a simple, powerful, and very old being. Reference is to these three traits." | |
Elachista diorella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | Dior Eluchíl, a Half-elf | [71] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ancalagon Conway Morris, 1977 | Priapulid | Ancalagon the Black | [171] | |
Ankalagon † (Van Valen, 1978) | Fossil mammal | Ancalagon the Black | "The mightiest dragon of Morgoth, in The Silmarillion." | [69] |
Claenodon mumak † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Mûmakil, the elephants of Middle-earth | "Mûmakil name used in Ithilien for the animal hobbits called an oliphaunt, resembling a large elephant. Reference is to size." | |
Desmatoclaenus mearae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Mearas, the horses of Rohan | "Meara, any one of the great horses of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings." | |
Gwaihiria Naumann, 1982 | Wasp | Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles | [172] | |
Amphiledorus ungoliantae Pekár & Cardoso, 2005 | Spider | Ungoliant | Ungoliant is a giant spider. | [173] |
Nemesia ungoliant Decae, Cardoso & Selden, 2007 | Spider | Ungoliant | [174] | |
Liolaemus smaug Abdala et al, 2010 | Lizard | Smaug | "In Tolkien’s mythology Smaug, the Golden, is the last of the Middle Earth dragons. The name Liolaemus smaug is because this new species exhibit a golden coloration on body." | [175] |
Smaug Stanley et al, 2011 | Lizard | Smaug | [176] | |
Tetramorium smaug Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2012 | Ant | Smaug | [158] | |
Pycnophyes smaug Sánchez et al, 2013 | Kinorhynch | Smaug | "The species name smaug, refers to the dragon Smaug, the greatest and most powerful in the later part of the Third Age in the books of J.R.R. Tolkien." | [177] |
Glaurung † Bulanov & Sennikov, 2015 | Weigeltisaurid | Glaurung | [178] | |
Planois smaug Carvajal, Faúndez & Rider, 2015 | True bug | Smaug | [179] [180] | |
Tamolia ancalagon Carvajal et al, 2015 | True bug | Ancalagon the Black | Named "for Ancalagon the Black, the largest dragon in J. R. R. Tokien’s universe; because of the dark coloration and aspect of this new species, as well as its size compared to many other heteropterans." | [181] |
Cristaphyes glaurung Sørensen & Grzelak, 2018 | Kinorhynch | Glaurung | [182] | |
Cristaphyes scatha Sørensen & Grzelak, 2018 | Kinorhynch | Scatha the Worm | ||
Ochyrocera laracna Brescovit, Cizauskas & Mota, 2018 | Spider | Shelob | "Laracna" is Shelob's name in Portuguese | [183] |
Ochyrocera ungoliant Brescovit, Cizauskas & Mota, 2018 | Spider | Ungoliant | ||
Pycnophyes ancalagon Sørensen & Grzelak, 2018 | Kinorhynch | Ancalagon the Black | [182] | |
Rhabdias glaurungi Willkens et al., 2020 | Roundworm | Glaurung | This species is named after the fictional character ‘Glaurung’, the first of the Dragons from ‘The Silmarillion’ | [184] |
Cnemaspis smaug Pal et al, 2021 | Gecko | Smaug | "The species is named after "Smaug", the dragon from J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel, The Hobbit. The name is derived from the old German verb 'smeuganan' meaning "to creep" or "to squeeze through a hole". The type specimens of this species were found within crevices of rocks and boulders inside the forest. Additionally, like dragons, the dorsum is armoured with large conical tubercles." | [185] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anisonchus athelas † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Athelas, a plant | "Sindarin (Elvish) athelas, kingsfoil, a healing plant in The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to the joining of phylogenies." | [69] |
Earendil undomiel † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Undómiel | "Quenya (Elvish) undómiel, evening star, which Eärendil with his silmaril became." | |
Fimbrethil ambaronae † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Fangorn (also named Ambaróna) | "Quenya (Elvish) Ambaróna, one of Fangorn's shorter names for his forest. Reference is to the dimness of the forest and of the affinities of this species."
Now revised to Oxyacodon agapetillus. [186] | |
Litaletes ondolinde † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Gondolin (also named Ondolindë) | "Quenya (elvish) ondo, rock, and lindë, song. Reference is to Rock Bench and to the hidden city Ondolindë or Gondolin of The Silmarillion. The Rock Bench specimens and others were formerly as hidden (and unsorted)." | |
Niphredil † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Niphredil, a flower | "Sindarin (Elvish) niphredil, white-flowering forb of open woods in Neldoreth and Lothlorien." | |
Platymastus palantir † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Palantir | "Quenya (Elvish) palantir, distant watcher, one of 7 globes made by Fëanor that gave visions through spacetime. Reference is to the long duration of the genus." | |
Thangorodrim † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | Thangorodrim | "Thangorodrim, the mountainous triple fortress of Morgoth in The Silmarillion. Reference is to Purgatory Hill."
Now revised to Oxyclaenus. [187] | |
Metapheretima andurili Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Andúril, sword reforged by Aragorn | [107] | |
Metapheretima stingi Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Sting, Bilbo and Frodo's dagger | ||
Metapheretima orcrista Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Orcrist, Thorin Oakenshield's sword | ||
Metapheretima glamdringi Easton, 1979 | Earthworm | Glamdring, Gandalf's sword | ||
Pseudopallenis palantir Kolibáč, 1997 | Beetle | Palantir | [188] | |
Asthenodipsas lasgalenensis Loredo et al, 2013 | Snake | Mirkwood (also named Eryn Lasgalen) | "The specific epithet lasgalenensis is derived from the name Eryn Lasgalen which means in the "Wood of Greenleaves" in the fictional Sindarian language from J.R.R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1955). It was the name used by the Wood Elves for the Mirkwood Forest after its cleansing following the War of the Ring. This name was chosen because Tolkien's (1955) description of this forest showed great similarity to the cloudy, upland forests within which this species is found." | [189] |
Shireplitis Fernández-Triana & Ward, 2013 | Wasp | The Shire | "[T]he genus is endemic to New Zealand, where a human replicate of The Shire is built". | [79] |
Lopholatilus ereborensis † Carnevale & Godfrey, 2014 | Tilefish | Erebor, the Lonely Mountain | [145] | |
Desmia mordor Landry & Solis, 2016 | Moth | Mordor | The specific name "means ‘Black Land’ in Sindarin, a fictional language used in The Lord of the Rings, the epic high-fantasy novel written by English author J. R. R. Tolkien [...] Mordor is volcanic and partly arid, like the Galápagos." | [190] |
Arctoceras erebori † Piazza, 2017 | Ammonoid | Erebor, the Lonely Mountain | [191] | |
Astyanax lorien Zanata, Burger & Camelier, 2018 | Ray-finned fish | Lothlórien | lorien, from the Quenya language meaning "Dream Land", used in allusion to the "beautiful areas" inhabited by the Brazilian species | [192] |
Acantopsis bruinen Boyd et al., 2018 | Ray-finned fish | River Bruinen, "Loudwater" | Specific epithet bruinen for the Loudwater of Rivendell and the flood that took the form of great horses, alluding to the common name “horseface loach” for the genus | [193] |
Cristaphyes dordaidelosensis Sørensen & Grzelak, 2018 | Kinorhynch | Dor Daidelos | "The species name dordaidelosensis, meaning 'living in Dor Daidelos,' is inspired by the book Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien. According to the book, Dor Daidelos is 'The Region of Everlasting Cold' and the northernmost region of Middle Earth in the First Age." | [182] |
Uroplatus fangorn Ratsoavina et al, Scherz, 2020 | Gecko | Fangorn | "The species epithet fangorn is [...] derived from the name of a deep, dark woodland in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. [...] We use this name in reference not only to the similarities between Fangorn forest and the forests in which the new species occurs, but also to the tree-like appearance of Uroplatus geckos, which make them seem like the 'tree spirits' that are Tolkien’s Ents (Flieger 2013)." | [194] |
Hyperlais orodruinella Korb, Gorbunov & Melyakh, 2023 | Moth | Orodruin (Mount Doom) | "We name the new species after Mount Orodruin. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the One Ring was forged on Mount Orodruin by the Dark Lord Sauron. The name shows the characteristic feature of the moth: black triangular wings with a yellow suffusion in the basal part, resembling a dark volcano with an erupting top" | [195] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aletodon mellon † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | mellon | "Sindarin (Elvish) mellon, friend, the password of the west gate of Khazad-dûm in The Lord of the Rings. Reference is to similarly to P. palantir, presumptive diet of plants" | [69] |
Chriacus calenancus † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | calen, anca | "Sindarin (Elvish) calen, green; anca, Jaws. Reference is to inferred herbivory" | |
Litomylus alphamon † Van Valen 1978 | Fossil mammal | alph, amon | "Sindarin (Elvish) alph, swan, and amon, hill. Reference is to the locality"
Now revised to Litocherus lacunatus. [196] | |
Mimatuta minuial † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | minuial | "Sindarin (Elvish) minuial, the time at dawn when the stars fade. Reference is to the dawn of the Cenozoic and the fading of the Mesozoic stars." | |
Thangorodrim thalion † Van Valen, 1978 | Fossil mammal | thalion | "Sindarin (Elvish) thalion, strong. Reference is to the massive morphology of the jaws and the generic name"
Now revised to Oxyclaenus pugnax. [197] | |
Elachista aranella Kaila, 1999 | Moth | aran- | "E. aranella seems to owe its name to aran-, the 'royal prefix used by the Kings of Arthedain after Malvegil and by the Chieftains of the Dúnedain of the North to indicate their claim to all of Arnor'". [198] | [71] |
Helicops nentur Costa et al, 2016 | Snake | nen, tur | "The name nentur is formed by the ( Quenya) words nen (water) and tur (ruler, master)," referencing the aquatic habits of the species | [199] |
Hylaeus mellon Dathe and Proshchalykin, 2016 | Bee | mellon | "mellon (High Elvish [Sindarin]): friend" | [200] |
Epimeria anguloce d’Acoz & Verheye, 2017 | Amphipod | angulócë | "Angulócë, dragon — Tolkien’s Quenya language ( Faulskanger 2008). The name, which is a noun in apposition, alludes to the dragon-like facies of the species." | [201] |
Thiodina perian Bustamante & Ruiz, 2017 | Jumping spider | perian | "The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the fictional language Sindarin created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Sindarin is one of the languages spoken by the Elves. The word 'perian' is translated as 'small' and was used to refer to the Hobbits, the smaller kind of Middle Earth; in reference to its small size, to date the smallest thiodinine ever discovered" | [202] |
Vanima Zacca, Casagrande & Mielke, 2020 | Butterfly | vanima | In Quenya (elvish) vanima means beautiful | [203] |
Taxon | Type | Named for | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aspidoras psammatides Britto, Lima & Santos, 2005 | Catfish | Psamathos Psamathides, Roverandom | "Psammatides, after 'Psammatos psammatides' [ sic], 'the sand sorcerer', a character of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book 'Roverandom', from the Greek psammos, sand, and ides, son of. In allusion to the sand-dwelling behavior of the species." | [204] |
She was also renamed in honour of the British author JRR Tolkien.
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