Soil Ecologist Discovers New Nematode Species, Immediately Regrets Naming It After Ex

Dr. Lydia Cuticle of the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology has expressed mounting regret over her decision to name a newly discovered nematode species after her ex-husband, Richard, after colleagues pointed out that the species' defining characteristics include aggressive resource extraction, reproductive manipulation, and an inability to survive independently. 'I named it Pristionchus richardii because Richard supported my early fieldwork,' Dr. Cuticle told reporters. 'It was meant to be an honor. I genuinely did not consider the optics of naming a necromenic parasite after my former spouse.' The species, discovered in decomposing bark beetle galleries in the Black Forest, is notable for its predatory mouth form — a dimorphic phenotype that allows it to consume other nematodes when resources become scarce. 'It waits for its host to die, then feeds on the resulting bacterial bloom,' said taxonomist Dr. Felix Amphid, reviewing the species description. 'I mean, as a metaphor, it's practically literary.' Richard himself has responded with what he described as 'measured disappointment.' 'She could have named it after her mother,' he told reporters. 'Instead, I share my name with a worm that eats other worms after waiting for something to die. I've been told this is a great honor in nematology. It does not feel like one.' Dr. Cuticle has submitted a formal request to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to rename the species. The commission has advised her that taxonomic names, like marriages, are 'essentially permanent once published.' The paper has been cited forty-seven times, primarily in social media posts.