Interest

Rare Catbus-esque Worm Takes Its Name After Ghibli's Totoro

Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre surprised the scientific community last year when they published their findings regarding a rare velvet worm found only in Vietnam's Cát Tiên National Park. They named him Eoperipatus totoro.

While the little critter's front end does bear some resemblance to the Ghibli film's title character, the scientists said that the worm reminded them of Catbus.

The worm grows to roughly 6 cm (~2.5"). It's perhaps a little less cute with all of its legs in the picture, but its easy to see where the Catbus description comes from. Perhaps some day it could make friends with the caterpillar that looks like Hello Kitty.

[Source: Pets Lady via Econet]