Chewbacca doesn’t get enough credit. The iconic Star Wars character has been around since the very beginning of the franchise, but all too often we see him relegated to the status of sidekick. That’s a damn travesty, because he’s an amazing character who deserves recognition. Luckily for the giant walking carpet, he has now receive an – admittedly bizarre – honor of his very own from a group of scientist in Papua New Guinea. You read that correctly, a weevil.
According to an incredibly weird new report from USA Today, a group of scientists in Papua New Guinea have named a newly discovered weevil after Chewbacca. More specifically, they have dubbed the new discovery Trigonopterus Chewbacca. The primary impetus for this naming decision apparently came about because the newly discovered weevil’s scales reminded the researchers involved in the discovery of the defensive fur that covers Chewbacca from head to toe. That’s admittedly a bit of a stretch, but I am going to give these scientists bonus points for creativity.
Strangely enough, this isn’t the first time that a scientific discovery has been given a name inspired by an iconic Star Wars character. Only last November a newly discovered catfish was classified as Peckoltia Greedoi as an apparent homage to the not-so-quick draw bounty hunter that Han Solo shot (first) during the events of Star Wars: A New Hope. Not all science fiction geeks are scientists, but it’s seriously starting to look like all scientists are science fiction geeks, and we love that.
If nothing else, we’re just glad to see Chewbacca finally get a little bit of credit. The giant wookie has taken part in some of the most intense battles ever to occur in the Star Wars universe, and he seldom gets credit. Hell, the wookie is basically responsible for getting the blast doors to the Endor shield generator offline, but nobody really likes to talk about that, do they? All I’m saying is this: maybe having a weevil named after him is a small but significant step towards making up for the fact that Chewbacca didn’t get a medal at the end of A New Hope.
Be sure to stay tuned for all of the latest and greatest Star Wars news as it becomes available to us. We’re bound to see more of the legendary wookie as the beloved Star Wars saga continues to unfold in the coming Star Wars: Episode VIII, which will hit theaters on December 15, 2017. As for you, Chewbacca, enjoy this totally weird honor; you’ve totally earned it.
