New Butterflies Are Named for Sauron, ‘Lord of the Rings’ Villain

The distinctive marks on the newly identified insects resemble the baleful eye of Sauron, the dark lord in J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy series.

Butterflies evolved 100 million years ago in North America

Many researchers thought butterflies first evolved in Asia, but a global genetic analysis suggests they arose in North America, well before the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct

Rare butterflies named after Sauron in Lord of the Rings

Scientists have given the new genus the name Saurona.

Butterfly species named after Lord of the Rings villain Sauron

The genus is named Saurona, as marks on the insect's wings look like the all-seeing eye in Tolkien's books.

A new group of butterflies has been named after the 'Lord of the Rings' villain

Butterfly Group With Fiery 'Eyes' Is Named After 'Lord of the Rings' Villain Sauron

Beyond their eye-like wing pattern, the two new species don't seem to show any signs of evil that would link them to Mordor

Lord of the Rings villain Sauron inspires the name of new butterfly genus

Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera are the first butterflies species in a new butterfly genus. Royal Entomological Society/New Line Cinema The piercing and malevolent ...

‘Rimmed with fire’: rare butterfly genus named after Sauron in Lord of the Rings

Newly discovered species with vivid orange and black markings named for evil ruler of Mordor to pique interest in conservationResearchers have uncovered a new genus of butterfly, with distinctive ...