Lizard named after Jim Morrison

An extinct lizard is named after the famous singer

By Nicole Hamer |

16:08 06 June 2013

A reptile has been named after the lead singer of the band The Doors. This relates to an extinct lizard being named after famous singer Jim Morrison.

Research carried out by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln led to the lizard being named. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The extinct creature is believed to have been around two metres long and roamed Earth approximately 40million years ago.

The lizard, which is believed to have lived in South-East Asia, is called Barbaturex morrisoni.

Jim Morrison was also known as the ‘Lizard King’.

Experts said this is the biggest herbivore known to have presided on Earth.

Jason Head of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who was the leader of the research, said: “I was listening to The Doors quite a bit during the research.”

Adding: “Some of their musical imagery includes reptiles and ancient places, and Jim Morrison was of course 'The Lizard King', so it all kind of came together."

Jim Morrison died in 1971. The Doors had many songs such as ‘Light My Fire’.

Reptiles are not birds or mammals and are usually recognised for having a body made of scales. There are many different species - some have four legs (such as lizards) and others have none (such as snakes).