Harrison Ford responds to new snake species named after him
Why did it have to be snakes?
Harrison Ford’s iconic character Indiana Jones might fear and hate snakes, but the star was thrilled to be the namesake of a newly discovered species of snake.
“This discovery is humbling,” said Ford, 81. told the Hollywood Reporter.
Ford was referring to a newly discovered species of snake now called Tachymenoides harrisonfordi.
It was found in the Andes Mountains of Peru in a collaboration between researchers in Peru and the United States. Although it was discovered in May 2022, the information about the snake’s name has not been published in the scientific journal to date Salamandra.
The snake is yellow, brown, and copper in color with stripes and is 16 inches long. It is allegedly Harmless to humans, but eats lizards and frogs.
The name is part nod to Indiana Jones and his famous fear of snakes, part homage to Ford’s commitment to the environment. Ford, who has been married to Calista Flockhart, 58, since 2010, is vice chairman of Conservation Internationalan organization focused on conservation news.
“The snake has eyes to drown in and spends most of the day sunning itself by a pond of dirty water – we probably would have been friends in the early ’60s,” Ford informed the organization.
He further joked, “These scientists keep naming creatures after me, but it’s always the animals that scare kids.” I don’t understand. I spend my free time doing cross stitching. I sing lullabies to my basil plants so they won’t be afraid of the night,” referring to the fact that he also inspired the names of the ant “Pheidole harrisonfordi” and the spider “Calponia harrisonfordi.”
The famous Indiana Jones line “Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?” is seen in the 1984 blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark, in which it is revealed that the fearless, whip-wielding Nazi hunter daredevil fears only one thing in this world: the slippery reptile.
Although that film was released over three decades ago, Ford still reprises his role as Indiana Jones, most recently starring in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which is still in theaters.
Ford is also currently starring in AppleTV drama Shrinking and Paramount+ spinoff series Yellowstone 1923 with Helen Mirren, but was snubbed by the Emmys for both shows — though two of his Shrinking co-stars Starring Jason Segel and Jessica Williams were nominated this year.
Referring to the new species of snake, Ford continued, “It’s a reminder that there is still so much to learn about our wild world — and that man is a small part of an incredibly vast biosphere.” Destinies are all on this planet intertwined and currently a million species stand on the brink of oblivion. We have an existential mission to mend our fractured relationship with nature and protect the places that make life possible.”
