A global internet poll has named a new species of deep-sea chiton – a type of marine mollusc – from the genus Ferreiraella. The chiton was discovered in 2024 in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench of the coast of Japan at a depth of over 5,500 metres (3.4 miles). The name chosen is Ferreiraella populi.

A public naming campaign began after YouTuber Ze Frank featured the rare chiton from the genus Ferreiraella in an episode of his “True Facts” series. Over 8,000 name ideas were submitted through social media, and after reviewing the entries, scientists selected the name Ferreiraella populi, where the species name in Latin means “of the people”.

Eleven different participants independently suggested the same name during the online process, researchers say.

The newly identified chiton is a bit odd. It is described as a herbivorous mollusk with an iron tongue, eight armored shell plates, and poop-eating worms close to its tail.

I will admit to being slightly disappointed that the name Molly McMollusk-Face, or more formally, Ferreiraella.Molly McMollusk-Face, was not chosen.

In a 2016 viral poll to name a major UK research ship, the overwhelming winner was Boaty McBoatface, winning by a landslide with nearly 125,000 votes. The research ship was ultimately named  RRS Sir David Attenborough and one of the ship’s autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) was named Boaty McBoatface as a compromise.

Thanks to Alaric Bond for contributing to this post.