You find Warhammer all over the world, but sometimes it pops up in very unexpected places. For instance, under a log in a forest. We recently heard a story about a discovery made by a scientist with a passion for taxonomy and the 41st Millennium, and we just had to ask him about it.
Shahan Derkarabetian PhD is a taxonomist at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology. When the opportunity arose to name a new species of arachnid, he took one look at it and drew a connection to one of his favourite characters in Warhammer 40,000.
Abaddon the Despoiler, leader of the Black Legion, Warmaster of the Black Crusades, and architect of the Cicatrix Maledictum. He’s easily one of the most recognisable, iconic, and spiky characters in the setting.
We caught up with Shahan to get the scoop on this awesome turn of events. He was quick to set one thing straight, though – “The species Abaddon despoliator is an arachnid – not a spider,* per se. They don’t have fangs or venom, and they don’t make silk.” Fair enough.
“Abaddon despoliator is only found in a small part of Western Australia, where they live in forests underneath logs,” Shahan tells us. “Their population is small and in need of conservation attention.”
“Much like Abaddon the Despoiler is covered in spikes and various sharp things, Abaddon despoliator is covered in spines – maybe they’re a gift from the Dark Gods,” he adds with a laugh.
How do you go about choosing a name for such a significant discovery? “I wanted to honour the importance of Warhammer 40,000 to me and my brother,” he says, “and what better way than naming a new species? The decision to name it after Abaddon, specifically, came from the spines on their body.”
Even when done in good fun, naming a species with a cultural reference is a tried-and-true way to increase exposure and generate interest in science. “A part of this naming decision was the hope that it might raise awareness of our planet's biodiversity,” recalls Shahan, “exposing a broader population to something they may have not known existed.
While the namesake might be one of the most destructive warlords in the setting, Shahan’s quick to let us know “there’s nothing to fear from Abaddon despoliator. They’re harmless.”
But don’t get too complacent, “perhaps they’re just waiting for their moment in the very, very distant future when the other Abaddon the Despoiler will make the entire galaxy tremble in terror.”
We’re always amazed by the ways the Warhammer hobby touches hobbyists’ lives, and this one is especially fun.
When Shahan’s not making cool scientific discoveries, he’s busy painting up some sweet miniatures – take a look at a couple of his Death Guard! Maybe next time he’ll get to name a moth after Mortarion. Time will tell.
What do you think of Shahan’s story? Have something to share about Warhammer popping up in the most unexpected places? Hit up the Warhammer 40,000 Facebook page and tell us about it!
* The Spider is, in fact, one of the many nicknames of yet another iconic hero of the Chaos Space Marines.