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Animal That Buries Its Head In Sand Is Named After Donald Trump

Animal That Buries Its Head In Sand Is Named After Donald Trump

The move is said to be in response to the US President's approach to global warming

EMS 7

EMS 7

A blind creature that buries its head in the sand has been named after US President Donald Trump - a move that's said to be in response to his approach to global warming. The newly discovered amphibian is to be officially named 'Dermophis donaldtrumpi'.

Hold onto your knickers, Twitter.

EnviroBuild said it wanted to use the naming of the small legless creature, found in Panama, to raise awareness about the burgeoning issue of global warming. Something which Trump has vehemently denied throughout his time in the White House.

EnviroBuild's Aidan Bell wrote in a statement: "[Dermophis donaldtrumpi] is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change and is therefore in danger of becoming extinct as a direct result of its namesake's climate policies.

Dermophis donaldtrumpi.
Abel Batista / Rainforest Trust UK

"Burrowing [his] head underground helps Donald Trump when avoiding scientific consensus on anthropomorphic climate change."

"It is the perfect name. Caecilian is taken from the Latin caecus, meaning 'blind', perfectly mirroring the strategic vision President Trump has consistently shown towards climate change." Zing!

Weirdly, this isn't the first time Trump's name has been assigned to an amphibian - last year, a new species of moth was christened 'Neopalpa donaldtrumpi' in honour of America's 45th President.

US President Donald Trump.
PA

But instead of its namesake coming from the nature of Trump's policies, it was down to the 'uncanny resemblance to Mr Trump' because of the yellowish-white scales on its head.

Regarding the recent christening - #Dermophisdonaldtrumpi - the comments made by Bell echo those made by many in reaction to Trump's attitude to climate change.

Last month, the POTUS questioned a report by his own government that found climate change would cost the US hundreds of billions of dollars annually and damage health, telling reporters: "I don't believe it."

Neopalpa donaldtrumpi.
Vazrick Nazari (Creative Commons)

Chris Redston - the executive director of Rainforest Trust UK - told the Guardian: "Protecting the world's remaining rainforests is acknowledged as one of the most effective ways to mitigate climate change, yet every day nearly 70,000 acres of rainforest are destroyed forever.

"This destruction is not only one of the main causes of climate change, but it is also having a devastating impact on endangered wildlife, indigenous communities and the planet's weather patterns."

Featured Image Credit: PA / Abel Batista / Rainforest Trust UK

Topics: Interesting, US News, Donald Trump, Animals