NOAA-funded scientists have found a new species of water mite off the shores of Puerto Rico. As they wrote about their findings, the intrepid marine biologists listened to singer Jennifer Lopez and in gratitude, named the mite Litarachna lopezae. The University of Puerto Rico biologists and their collaborators say that the mite was given its new title as a "small token of gratitude" for the singer's inspirational music.

Litarachna lopezae, the newly discovered water mite named after singer Jennifer Lopez. Credit: Vladimir Pesic.

"The reason behind the unusual choice of name for the new species is simple: J-Lo's songs and videos kept the team in a continuous good mood when writing the manuscript and watching World Cup soccer," said lead author Vladimir Pesic.

Litarachna lopezae was discovered at a water depth of 70 meters in what is called the mesophotic coral ecosystem . Litarachna lopezae is the deepest living pontarachnid mite found to date. Very little is known about pontarachnids, which are closely related to spiders. This is only the fourth described pontarachnid species for the Caribbean Sea.

J-Lo is not the first singer honored in such a way. Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, Bono, and Mick Jagger all have organisms named after them.

For more information, contact Kimberly.Puglise@noaa.gov.