The new species and genus of crab, Harryplax severus, also honours researcher Harry Conley, who had collected the crab specimen about two decades ago.
Having dug as deep as 30 metres into coral reef rubble in the island of Guam in the western Pacific Ocean, Conley collected many specimens.
Among the lot, were two unusual specimens which were not studied until much later. Only recently, researchers from the National University of Singapore discovered that they represent not only a new species, but also a new genus.
The name is also meant to allude to the main protagonist in Rowling's famous fantasy novel series, whose magical abilities the scientists liken to Conley's knack for finding rare or new species.
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The crab's species name, severus, is inspired by another character from the wizarding world - Professor Severus Snape, who despite being a central character in the series, keeps his background and agenda mysterious until the very end.
Showing his real identity, the character is "just like the present new species which has eluded discovery until now, nearly 20 years after it was first collected," researchers said.
To survive in the dark depths, the species has evolved with reduced eyes, well developed antennae, and long, slender legs. For the time being it is known only from the island of Guam.
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