# @swedense on Instagram - **Type:** Image - **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DGz8jn_qIFR - **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/30683581-swedense-instagram - **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/53e7694a1c.jpg - **Posted:** 2025-03-05T08:53:29.000+00:00 - **Account Owner:** sweden.se (@swedense) β€” https://gondola.cc/swedense ## Caption How does a paleontologist make use of his love of hard rock? πŸ€” He names extinct species after his musical heroes, of course! 🎢 πŸ‘¨β€πŸ”¬ Mats E. Eriksson, a paleontology professor at Lund University, recently completed a research project in Gotland – Sweden’s largest island – with international colleagues. Here, they studied fossilised extinct brittle stars ⭐️ – creatures closely related to sea stars, which provide insights into ancient marine ecosystems. Twelve previously unknown fossilised species were discovered, and when it came to naming them, Eriksson and his colleagues had little hesitation. 🎀🎸 Inspired by a handful of bands, they gave the species formal names corresponding to a timeline of how hard rock and metal music have evolved. Among the fossil names are 'Ophiopetagno paicei', named after Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice, and 'Muldaster haakei', inspired by Tomas Haake, drummer of Swedish band Meshuggah. πŸ₯πŸŽ΅ It’s no wonder Eriksson and his crew included a Swedish influence! Sweden, after all, has quite the reputation in metal and hard rock. Did you know that international acts Ghost, In Flames and Opeth are also Swedish? What would you name a new discovery if you got the chance? 😁 Photos: 1. Artistic interpretations of extinct brittle stars, artwork by 10 Tons, photo by Esben Horn, 2. Johan Joelsson, 3. IngoBlaha/Pixabay.com, 4. Anders Lindskog, 5. Collage of microscoping images, from research by Ben Thuy/Mats E. Eriksson/Manfred Kutscher/Lea D. Numberger-Thuy, 6. Artistic interpretation of extinct brittle stars, artist PΓ€r Olofsson #Sweden #Metal #HardRock #Paleontology #Research #LundUniversity ## Stats - **Views:** 0 - **Likes:** 636 - **Shares:** 0 - **Comments:** 21 ## Tags metal, sweden, hardrock, research, lunduniversity, paleontology --- Copyright (c) Gondola