Meet Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, the big league presidential moth
SACRAMENTO, CA (KTRK) -- A newly discovered species of moth bears a HUGE resemblance to POTUS 45, biologists say.
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Meet Neopalpa donaldtrumpi. University of California, Davis biologist Dr. Vazrick Nazari named the twirler moth, a new species recently discovered in the American southwest, in honor of the yellowish-white scales on its head that bear a striking resemblance to Donald J. Trump's iconic coif.
Nazari notes that N. donaldtrumpi is native to an area of the country that is becoming increasingly urbanized and popualted, which could pose a threat to the species' long-term survival. He hopes that naming the species after the new president will generate interest in wildlife conservation.
PHOTOS: A closer look at the presidential moth
"By naming this species after the 45th President of the United States, I hope to bring some public attention to, and interest in, the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity," Nazari said in a news release.
Trump isn't the only president to have species named after him -- nine species have been named in honor of President Barack Obama, including an ancient lizard and a coral reef fish.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
