A Nudi by Any Other Name: How new species are given their names

By Marli Wakeling “What’s in a name?” Juliet famously asks in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. In the world of marine biology, it turns out, quite a lot goes into naming new species.

Recent discoveries of sea slugs have been fueled by the popularity of digital photography and "muck" diving. Newfound species aren’t necessarily named after the divers who discover them. Slugs have been named after a distinct physical trait (Chromodoris magnifica, which translates to magnificent colors), locality (Janolus barbarensis, named for its proximity to Santa Barbara, California), or an esteemed colleague or relative (Hypselodoris emma, named for the scientist’s daughter). The name-giving process can be as glacial as the pace of a slug. Finds from the early 2000s, including ones pictured here, remain nameless; until naming day, they are given the species name “sp.”