‘Tachymenoides harrisonfordi’: New snake species named after Harrison Ford
New snake species named after Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
ByJessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Actor Harrison Ford is known for his roles in “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars.” Now, Ford has a new honor to add — he has a snake species named after him.
Ford is the vice chair of the nonprofit Conservation International, according to the BBC. He has also been linked with snakes in his role as the titular character in the “Indiana Jones” franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“These scientists keep naming critters after me, but it’s always the ones that terrify children,” Ford told Conservation International, according to the BBC. “I don’t understand. I spend my free time cross-stitching. I sing lullabies to my basil plants, so they won’t fear the night.”
Ford also has an ant and a spider named after him, according to the news outlet.
Researchers from Peru and the United States discovered the newly named snake species in Peru’s Otisihi National Park, the BBC reported.
“In all seriousness, this discovery is humbling. It’s a reminder that there’s still so much to learn about our wild world — and that humans are one small part of an impossibly vast biosphere. On this planet, all fates are intertwined, and right now, one million species are teetering on the edge of oblivion. We have an existential mandate to mend our broken relationship with nature and protect the places that sustain life,” Ford said in a statement to Conservation International.
The nonprofit said that the snake had been named Tachymenoides harrisonfordi. They are slender reptiles that grow to about 16 inches, according to Conservation International. The species likes to eat frogs and lizards but it is harmless to humans.
Fans of Ford’s Indiana Jones would remember the iconic line from the 1981 film “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” where Ford’s character says, “Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” while surrounded by reptiles in the Well of Souls, according to People.
The most recent “Indiana Jones” film, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” came out on June 30.
0 of 32
1970 American actor Harrison Ford (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
1977 FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 10: Harrison Ford at Deauville festival in France on September 10, 1977. (Photo by Laurent MAOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) (Laurent MAOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
1978 American actor Harrison Ford leans against a tree, 1978. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images) (Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Portrait of Harrison Ford Portrait of Harrison Ford (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) (Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
1980 British actor Anthony Daniels and American Harrison Ford on the set of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back directed by Irvin Kershner. (Photo by Lucasfilm/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
1980 American actor Harrison Ford on the set of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back directed by Irvin Kershner. (Photo by Lucasfilm/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) (Lucasfilm/Corbis via Getty Images)
1981 American actor Harrison Ford in his home in Los Angeles, US.(Photo by Nancy Moran/Sygma via Getty Images) (Nancy Moran/Nancy Moran)
1981 American actor Harrison Ford in his home in Los Angeles, US.(Photo by Nancy Moran/Sygma via Getty Images) (Nancy Moran/Nancy Moran)
1981 American actor Harrison Ford on the set of "Raiders of the Lost Ark". (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
1982 Actor Harrison Ford in a scene from the movie 'Blade Runner', 1982. (Photo by Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images) (Stanley Bielecki Movie Collectio/Getty Images)
1982 Harrison Ford on the set of "Blade Runner", directed by Ridley Scott. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
1984 American actor Harrison Ford on the set of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
1984 Harrison Ford in a scene from the film 'Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom', 1984. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images) (Paramount Pictures/Getty Images)
1985 American actor Harrison Ford on the set of Witness directed by Peter Weir. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) (PARAMOUNT PICTURES/Corbis via Getty Images)
1988 American actor Harrison Ford on the set of Frantic, written and directed by Roman Polanski. (Photo by Francois Duhamel/Sygma via Getty Images) (Francois Duhamel/Sygma via Getty Images)
1993 Harrison Ford on pay phone in a scene from the film 'The Fugitive', 1993. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images) (Archive Photos/Getty Images)
2011 LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Actor Harrison Ford attends the 'Morning Glory' UK premiere at the Empire Leicester Square on January 11, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
2015 BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 16: Actor Harrison Ford attends the 12th Annual "Living Legends of Aviation" at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 16, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
2017 Harrison Ford during filming of the Graham Norton Show at the London Studios, to be aired on BBC One on Friday evening. (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images) (Isabel Infantes - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
2017 HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 17: Harrison Ford attends the Sir Ridley Scott Hand and Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on May 17, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/WireImage) (Araya Diaz/WireImage)
2017 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Harrison Ford attends the "Blade Runner 2049" photocall at The Corinthia Hotel on September 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage) (David M. Benett)
2017 LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Harrison Ford attends the 'Blade Runner 2049' photocall at The Corinthia Hotel on September 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) (Dave J Hogan)
2019 BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 06: In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, Presenter Harrison Ford speaks onstage during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 06, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) (Handout/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
2020 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Harrison Ford attends the Premiere of 20th Century Studios' "The Call of the Wild" at El Capitan Theatre on February 13, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
2021 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Harrison Ford speaks onstage during the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Todd Wawrychuk/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images) (Todd Wawrychuk/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images)
2022 ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Harrison Ford speaks onstage during D23 Expo 2022 at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on September 10, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)