A flatworm that infects freshwater turtles in Malaysia has been given a presidential name: Baracktrema obamai. The study explains that the fluke’s name was inspired by a distant relative of one of the scientists. “The new genus and species is named in honor of Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States of America, and 5th cousin, twice removed, of [Thomas R. Platt],” the study states. Because the worm represents both a new genus and a new species, Bullard said that it is a “double honor” to have both taxonomic levels named for the president. “As species similar to B. obamai are discovered and described, they too will be classified under the genus Baracktrema,” he added.

Source: Fox News September 09, 2016 15:39 UTC