New species of catfish named after iconic Star Wars bounty hunter, Greedo

A previously unknown species of catfish discovered in South America has been named after one of the most iconic bounty hunters in Star Wars — Greedo of Rodia (sorry Boba Fett fans).

Officially named Peckoltia greedoi, this particular catfish is known for its large, dark eyes, puckered lips, and protruding bristles, making it the perfect fish doppelgänger for the bounty hunter.

"As a 7-year-old kid, I watched Star Wars in the theatre and it was a life-changing experience for me," said Jonathan Armbruster, biological sciences professor and curator of fishes for the Auburn University Museum of Natural History. "I became a lifelong fan, and I now share that with my son. Greedo has always been a personal favorite of mine."

Although his role in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was short, Greedo has become part of one of Star Wars' biggest controversies. You might remember him from the cantina scene on Mos Eisley, where he was shot and killed by Han Solo while attempting to collect on a debt for Jabba the Hutt. While Han clearly shot first in the film's original release, George Lucas, in a later re-release of the film, slightly changed the scene by making Greedo shoot first. Of course, fans of the original never forget.

Peckoltia greedoi has its own interesting backstory. First discovered by researchers in 1998, Armbruster obtained the specimen in 2005 for a manuscript he and two others at Auburn University were preparing for the genus Peckoltia. Originally designated as the species Peckoltia vittata, it wasn't until ten years later that he, along with David Werneke, Milton Tan and Chris Hamilton, all of the Department of Biological Sciences, was examining the specimen for characteristics when thenew connection was made.

"Chris looked at the specimen and said 'that looks like that guy from Star Wars,'" said Armbruster. "After a little prodding, I realized he was talking about Greedo. We then knew what the name had to be. The Peckoltia greedoi does bear a striking resemblance to Greedo."

I'll let you decide.

[Auburn]