Metallica frontman James Hetfield has had the honor of having his name used as inspiration for a new species of snake.
After Nightwish had crab species named after the band , the Portuguese Dr. Luís Ceríaco , chief curator of the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto and leader of the team of biologists who discovered the new species, and Mariana Marques , second author of the scientific article about the discovery, published in the scientific journal Zootaxa , decided to name it after the icon. As perhaps already suspected, Ceríaco and Marques are big fans of heavy metal, and stated, "We decided to honor him for all the positive vibes his music has transmitted to us throughout our personal lives and careers."
The snake, named Atheris hetfieldi, can reach up to 52 centimeters in length and lives at the base of a volcano on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea. Besides being venomous, the snake is considered the most extravagant in Africa, given its spines and vibrant colors.
Check out images of Atheris hetfieldi , and fan art in honor of this new milestone in James' career.
