New species name tribute for Sir David

HONOUR Attenborough SIR David Attenborough has had a new species of damselfly dating to more than 70 million years ago named after him.

The fossil was found in a piece of mid-Cretaceous amber in Kachin Province, Myanmar. Researchers named it after TV naturalist Sir David, 91, because of his long-standing appreciation of dragonflies.

The full scientific name for the species was given in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology as Mesosticta david at ten boroug hi.

Co-author Professor Edmund Jarzembowski said: “Sir David was delighted. He is not only interested in amber but also a president of the British Dragonfly Society.”

Other animals named after him include a weevil, a plesiosaur and a fish.