Metallica has taken to Instagram to reveal one of the coolest new discoveries to surface on Earth, or more fittingly, not surface – a brand new sea creature.
The new species was found in the depths of the ocean by researchers who decided to name it after the band.
Macrostylis Metallicola is the newly discovered deep-sea creature which researchers decided to name after heavy metal icons, Metallica.
The species, dubbed Macrostylis Metallicola is a tiny worm-like creature that only grows up to 6.5 millimetres long and lives in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, a region deep below the surface between Hawaii and Mexico.
Dr. Torben Riehl and Dr. Bart De Smet discovered the species and named it after the metal band because of the polymetallic nodules (mineral resources that contain high levels of metals such as nickel, copper, and cobalt) that make up the species’ habitat.
Taking to Instagram, the band posted:
“The Thing That Should Not Be has a few things in common with us. The worm-like creature dwells in complete darkness, has no eyes, and is colorless. Talk about Blackened!” Their post was accompanied by stunning concept art created by @anyfranksz.
“It also lives amongst metallic nodules containing cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, and rare-earth elements,” the band continued. “So it basically lives in a rock stadium? Now that’s one metal crustacean!”
Welcome to the world, Metallica 2.0!
