New snake species named after Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash; here’s why scientists chose him

A new snake species discovered in the jungle has been named after Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash (Image credit: Chris Austin via Field Museum) A newly described snake from the forests of New Guinea has been given a name familiar to rock fans around the world. Scientists have named the non-venomous species Lielaphis slashi, or Slash’s groundsnake, after Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, whose real name is Saul Hudson. According to the Field Museum, which announced the species' description, the name was inspired by the guitarist’s long-standing interest in snakes, reptiles and natural history. The small ground-dwelling snake was first encountered during fieldwork in New Guinea years before researchers formally established that it represented a previously unknown species, adding another unusual discovery to the island’s rich biodiversity.Why Slash was chosenThe decision to name the snake after Slash has a personal connection to Sara Ruane, an associate curator of herpetology at Chicago’s Field Museum and senior author of the study describing the species. According to Ruane, she became interested in both reptiles and Guns N’ Roses when she was young. She told Popular Science that the band ...