List of organisms named after the Star Wars series

Newly created taxonomic names in biological nomenclature often reflect the discoverer's interests or honour those the discoverer holds in esteem, including fictional elements from works like Star Wars. This is a list of real organisms with scientific names chosen to reference the fictional Star Wars franchise.

Named after Darth Vader TaxonTypeNotesRefPolemistus vaderi Menke & Vincent, 1983WaspMenke stated that he "wanted to add a little humor in the otherwise rather dry subject of taxonomy".Darthvaderum Hunt, 1996Mite"When I saw the SEM of the gnathosoma I immediately thought of Darth Vader, evil antihero of Star Wars."Adelomyrmex vaderi Fernández, 2003Ant"The dark aspect of these ants evokes Darth Vader, the malign character in the Star Wars series, for whom this species is named."Thricops vaderi Savage, 2003FlyAgathidium vaderi Miller and Wheeler, 2005BeetleDarth Vader "shares with A. vaderi a broad, shiny, helmetlike head."Garthambrus darthvaderi McLay & S.H.Tan, 2009CrabThe specific epithet "alludes to the helmet-like appearance of the front of this species."Zoosphaerium darthvaderi Wesener & Bespalova, 2010Millipede"From the Star Wars character Darth Vader, whose helmet strongly resembles the anal shield of this species."Begonia darthvaderiana Lin, et alBegonia"The epithet refers to the resemblance of the unique dark appearance of this new Begonia to that of warrior Darth Vader"Diastolinus vaderi Hart and Ivie, 2016BeetleThe species has a "shiny black head and pronotum that bear a striking resemblance to the helmet" of Darth Vader.Lepidogryllus darthvaderi Desutter-Grandcolas & Anso, 2016Cricket"Species named after its striking coloration within the genus: wholly dark (bad) with some light patches (good), as the bad fictional character Darth Vader"Ricinus vaderi Valan, 2016Louse"The first author's fiancée noticed a similarity between the head of the R. vaderi and Darth Vader's helmet." †Vaderlimulus Lerner et al., 2017Horseshoe CrabA fossil from the Triassic of Idaho, USA. "The generic name Vaderlimulus is suggested by a resemblance of the holotype prosoma to the helmet worn by Darth Vader, a well-known fictional character from the Star Wars film series."Epicratinus anakin Gonçalves & Brescovit, 2020Spider"Anakin is a character which change[s] from the light side to the dark side of the 'Force' and becomes evil in the plot. The two colors of the male carapace remind that change."Epicratinus vader Gonçalves & Brescovit, 2020"Darth Vader is a character which wears a costume and black helmet, like the color of the male carapace."Leucothoe darthvaderi Amphipod"Named for Darth Vader from the Star Wars movie series about the takeover of the Imperial rebel army, in reference to the rapid appearance and colonization of L. darthvaderi sp. nov. in the host sponge Cliona varians.Evarcha darthvaderi Spider"The specific epithet is from "Darth Vader", a character in the Star Wars franchise; it is a tribute to the production of this great film."Plutothrix skywalkeri Wasp"The species is named in honour of George Lucas' "Star Wars" character – "Anakin Skywalker"." Apanteles darthvaderi Wasp"The species was named by students from Back Plains State School. The students named the species for a fictional character from the Star Wars space opera franchise, "because this mean little wasp is from the dark side like Darth Vader, because it sucks the life out of the caterpillars.""Bathynomus vaderi Isopod"The species named after the most famous Sith Lord in the Star Wars movie series, Darth Vader, whose helmet resembles the head of the new Bathynomus species."Eviota vader Goby"The specific epithet is derived from the fictional dark figure Darth Vader in the Star Wars movie franchise [...], referring to the fact that it is the darkest of all described dwarfgobies."

Named after Yoda TaxonTypeNotesRefPolemistus yoda Menke & Vincent, 1983WaspMenke stated that he "wanted to add a little humor in the otherwise rather dry subject of taxonomy".Albunione yoda Markham & Boyko, 2003IsopodNamed "in recognition that the slightly curved long lateral extensions of the female's head resemble the head shape of Yoda with his long drooping ears."Yoda Priede, et al, 2012Acorn worm"Yoda refers to the lateral lips, which are shaped like the ears of Yoda, a character in the Star Wars universe."Meoneura yodai Stuke 2016Fly"This species is dedicated to Grand Master Yoda, the smallest Jedi of the Star Wars space opera"Phyllagathis yodae Flowering plant"The specific epithet was chosen afte "Yoda", a character in Star Wars movies, who has a furry, wrinkled and greenish appearance. This new species is characterized by the hairy, rugose and greenish leaves that resembles [sic] Yoda, therefore we choose this special character as the epithet."Yodanoe Bonifácio & Menot, 2018Scale worm"This genus is dedicated to Yoda, the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. The name is composed by Yoda and 'noe' from Polynoe, the ancient Greek nymph."Trigonopterus yoda Riedel, 2019WeevilThe name "appears to fit to a small greenish forest-dwelling creature".Epicratinus yoda Gonçalves & Brescovit, 2024SpiderThe specific epithet is a noun taken in apposition and is in reference to Jedi Master Yoda, a fictional character in George Lucas film, "Star Wars". Yoda is the smallest of the Jedi Council in size, with three fingers in hand, just like his RTA.Plutothrix yodai Wasp"The species is named in honour of George Lucas' "Star Wars" character – "Yoda" is the Grand Master of the Jedi Order."

Named after Luke Skywalker TaxonTypeNotesRefSclerobunus skywalkeri Derkarabetian & Hedin, 2014Harvestman"The specific epithet is in reference to the character Luke Skywalker and is used to recognize the multi-generational influence and significance of the original Star Wars trilogy. This name also reflects the fact that this species is found only at high elevations in 'sky island' montane habitats, and thus appears to 'walk the sky'."Hoolock tianxing Fan et al, 2017Gibbon"Tianxing constitutes the pinyin transliteration of 天行, meaning heaven's movement or skywalker [...] a name referring to the unique locomotory mode of gibbons" The species was given the common name "Skywalker hoolock gibbon".Romanogobio skywalkeri Friedrich et al, 2018Ray-finned fish"Named for Luke Skywalker, the hero of the movie 'Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope'"Epicratinus luke Gonçalves & Brescovit, 2024SpiderThe specific epithet is a noun taken in apposition and is in reference to Luke Skywalker, a fictional character in George Lucas film, "Star Wars", portrayed in films by Mark Hamill. Luke wields a lightsaber, as the long RTA of that species looks like.

Named after Chewbacca TaxonTypeNotesRefPolemistus chewbacca Menke & Vincent, 1983WaspMenke stated that he "wanted to add a little humor in the otherwise rather dry subject of taxonomy".Wockia chewbacca Adamski, 2009Moth"The species epithet, chewbacca, is named after the very large and hairy Wookiee character in the Star Wars movie series."Trigonopterus chewbacca Van Dam, Laufa and Ridel, 2016Weevil"This species has dense scales on the head and the legs, which reminds the authors of Chewbacca's dense fur."Urubaxia chewie True bug"[T]he epithet is relative to the big size of this species compared to other Urubaxia species — for its appearance we name it in honor of the sci-fi character Chewbacca, dearly known as Chewie"Austinograea chubacarc Crab"The expedition name CHUBACARC 2019 cruise rhymes with one Star Wars character; and the specific name chubacarc is an oblique reference to Chewbacca, the furry hero of the popular American Star Wars saga by George Lucas (Lucas film), alluding to the dense setae on the internal surface of the cheliped palm of the species."Iridogorgia chewbacca Coral"named according to its shape resembling the wookie in the Star Wars movies."

Named after Han Solo TaxonTypeNotesRef†Han solo TrilobiteThe fossil was discovered in southern China. It was purportedly named for the Han Chinese people and for being the only member of its genus. Turvey later stated he was dared by friends to name a species after a Star Wars character.Urubaxia solo True bug"the epithet is relative to the paramere with only one sclerotized spine, and in honor of the sci-fi character Han Solo from Star Wars © saga — we grieve his death in the movie The Force Awakens."Ceroptres soloi Wasp"Named for Han Solo, a character from the Star Wars franchise portrayed by Harrison Ford. Solo is portrayed as a smuggler, thief, and jack-of-all-trades that was instrumental in implementing the destruction of the Death Star."

Named after Leia Organa TaxonTypeNotesRefCoptoborus leia Smith & Cognato, 2021Bark beetle"The species is setose and round like the character's bun-styled hair."Epicratinus leia Gonçalves & Brescovit, 2024SpiderThe specific epithet is a noun taken in apposition and is in reference to Princess Leia Organa, a fictional character in George Lucas film, "Star Wars", portrayed in films by Carrie Fisher. In her first appearance, Leia has her hair curled up like a headphone, which resembles the female's epigynum.

Named after Padmé Amidala TaxonTypeNotesRefBegonia amidalae Lin, et alBegonia"With embellished silvery spots on dark sheen green foliages, the appearance of this new species is reminiscent of the starry sky. We have, therefore, ventured to choose a beautiful role of Star Wars as the epithet."†Xenokeryx amidalae Sánchez et al, 2015Ruminant"Referred to the fictional character Padmé Amidala from Star Wars, due to the striking resemblance that the occipital appendage of Xenokeryx bears to one of the hairstyles that the aforementioned character shows in The Phantom Menace feature film."

Named after Obi-Wan Kenobi TaxonTypeNotesRefTetramorium obiwan Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2014Ant"The name of the new species is inspired by a fictional character from George Lucas' Star Wars universe: the wise Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi."Plutothrix kenobii Wasp"The species is named in honour of George Lucas' "Star Wars" character – "Obi-Wan Kenobi"."

Named after Jabba the Hutt TaxonTypeNotesRefOsedax jabba Annelid"The trunk of the new species is reminiscent of the tail of the mythical creature Jabba the Hutt"Ceroptres jabbai Wasp"Named for Jabba the Hutt, a crimelord from the Star Wars franchise. Jabba is known for his indulgence in all senses, which is particularly showcased in the 1983 film Return of the Jedi. We apply this name to C. jabbai specifically because C. jabbai exhibits the most expansive host preferences of known Ceroptres species, with three known host gall species, therein displaying overindulgence in an inquiline gall wasp."

Named after Ewoks TaxonTypeNotesRefCrocydocinus ewok Crab"The species is name after a Star Wars movie character, Ewok, due to the fuzzy and woolly appearance of the new species."Trigonopterus ewok Weevil"This epithet is a noun in apposition based on the fictional character of small bear-like creatures from Star Wars VI movie."

Named after Porgs TaxonTypeNotesRefCrocydocinus porg Crab"The species is named after a Star Wars movie character, Porg, due to its woolly appearance."Trigonopterus porg WeevilNamed after the "fictional penguin-like character Porg in the Star Wars movies. This species inhabiting a remote island has the same color combination of black, orange and white."

Named after other characters and elements TaxonTypeNamed forNotesRef"Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii"BacteriumMidi-chlorians"Midichlorians are microscopic symbionts that reside within the cells of living things and 'communicate with the Force'."