Researchers in China have paid unusual tribute to K-pop star Jennie Ruby Jane. They've named a newly discovered fish species after her. The tiny black-and-yellow fish,called Brachygobius jennie,is smallest of its genus, less than 9 millimeters. First bumblebee goby found in China.
Tian Jiangyan,a master’s student, made the discovery. She said Jennie’s music inspired her academic journey . Naming the fish was her way of honoring Jennie’s “positive influence.”
Fish was spotted in April 2025 during fieldwork by the Pearl River estuary's mangrove wetlands. Tian initially thought they were juvenile fish. But markings didn't match any known species. This led to further lab work,where Tian and colleagues from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou confirmed it was new.
The study,published in Zoosystematics and Evolution, suggests Brachygobius jennie could help explore vertebrate miniaturization limits. This naming bridges pop culture and science,showing diverse inspirations behind scientific discovery…
