Scientists Name Spider After Harry Potter Sorting Hat

Scientists from India have named this uncannily hat-like spider after the Sorting Hat from the Harry Potter novels. The new specie measures only 7mm in size and has been named Eriovixia Gryffindori after House Gryffindor, one of the four houses of Hogwarts. Incidentally, the Sorting Hat is an anthropomorphic hat that tells students which of the Hogwarts houses they will be assigned to.

You all know this pivotal scene that brought Harry, Ron, and Hermione together.

Javed Ahmed, lead author of the study, shared:

“We are very excited to have found this new spider whose shape is very similar to the magical sorting hat worn by the wizard (Gryffindor) in Harry Potter.

“As a youngster, I was very fond of reading the Harry Potter books. So, when I encountered this tiny spider, I thought of the magical hat.”

The spider species was discovered in the Kans forest area of Western Ghats, Karnataka by a team that is already responsible for discovering 5 new spider species in the past two years.

Aside from its fantastical name, the Sorting Hat spider also has the camouflage ability, hence its shape. It’s abdomen makes it look like a dried leaf, which helps the spider avoid getting eaten by predators when it sleeps during daytime.

Ahmed’s exitement at the discovery also prompted him to Tweet JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, and this was her response.

.@curiocritters I'm truly honoured! Congratulations on discovering another #FantasticBeast! 👉🕷✨ pic.twitter.com/NJ4Fe27F1r

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 11, 2016

Aside from the Sorting Hat spider, Ahmed is also considering naming another spider species after a famous species of spiders from the Harry Potter universe.

Can you guess which creature he has in mind?