‘Wookiee of the Sea’: Scientists Name Furry Deep-Sea Coral After Chewbacca

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We usually think of *Star Wars* taking place in outer space, but now a piece of the galaxy is under the sea! Scientists have named a newly discovered deep-sea coral species after Chewbacca, the famous furry character from the franchise.

I have to say, this new coral discovery is just… delightful! Back in 2006, researchers first spotted it near Moloka’i, and then again in the Mariana Trench in 2016. It’s a really unique coral – imagine long, shaggy branches that stand upright. Honestly, the first thing everyone thought when they saw it was Chewbacca from *Star Wars*. It’s got this shiny, almost furry look, and the resemblance is absolutely uncanny! They’ve officially named it *Iridogorgia chewbacca*, and it’s a perfectly fitting title.

This September, University of Hawai’i professor Les Watling and his team officially described a newly discovered coral in the journal *Zootaxa*. The coral, named *Iridogorgia*, has bendable, hair-like branches that can reach up to 15 inches in length, and the overall specimen grows to between 20 inches and four feet long.

Watling described seeing the coral for the first time as an unforgettable experience. He was struck by its long, flowing branches, which instantly reminded him of the Star Wars character Chewbacca. Despite his many years working in the deep sea, he said discoveries like this still capture his attention.

The way coral branches move with the ocean current looks like fur, making it instantly recognizable as a close match to the famous character it resembles.

The creature known as *I. chewbacca* lives in the deep ocean, typically found living alone. Because it’s so hard to reach and study, much about this Wookiee-like animal remains unknown. It’s still amazing to learn that our beloved furry friend from space has a look-alike living in the deep sea!

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2025-09-23 21:04