Star Wars: Newly Discovered Spider Genus Gets Named After Stormtroopers

There is little doubt that the Stormtroopers are some of the most underrated characters in the Star Wars Universe. However, it looks like the science world is paying tribute to the Empire's unsung heroes. A new genus of spiders has just been named after the Star Wars soldiers.

According to LiveScience, scientists found the new spider genus that belongs to a family dubbed bald-legged spiders, which are native to South America and Central America. The researchers realized that the arachnids are so alike in size and markings that they decided to give them the name Stormtropis.

Like the Stormtroopers in Star Wars, the spiders are nearly identical that it is difficult to tell them apart. This is why the scientists decided to name them after the soldiers who are impossible to tell apart unless they take off their helmets. Interestingly, the study also noted that Stormtropis are somehow clumsy like their namesake. However, they have yet to confirm whether they gave the little spiders their own blasters to prove this.

There could be another reason why the scientists decided to name the new genus after Stormtroopers. After all, the Imperial soldiers can be found in every Star Wars movie and usually show up in the most unlikely places. This is true with Stormtropis, which can reportedly be found even in the central Andes.

The Stormtropis species S. muisca is said to be found at an altitude of 11,155 feet (3,400 meters) above sea level. This makes it the highest-dwelling bald-legged spider species confirmed to date.

We are still learning more about these awesome spiders. In the meantime, we can expect to see more of the actual Stormtroopers in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which is scheduled for release on December 20.

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