Creature with scissor-like claws named after Johnny Depp

Los Angeles: An obscure, extinct creature that had scissor-like claws is being named after Hollywood star Johnny Depp, who played Edward Scissorhands in the 1990 movie.

The actor, known for taking on quirky characters in his movies, had the rare honour after a 505-million-year-old fossil was discovered by the scientists, the People magazine reported. The creature has been named Kooteninchela deppi because of its scissor-like claws, which reminded the scientist who discovered it of Depp`s character from `Edward Scissorhands`. "When I first saw the pair of isolated claws in the fossil records of this species, I could not help but think of Edward Scissorhands," the scientist, David Legg, said on the website of London`s Imperial College. "Even the genus name, Kootenichela, includes the reference to this film, as `chela` is Latin for claws or scissors. In truth, I am also a bit of a Depp fan and so what better way to honor the man than to immortalize him as an ancient creature that once roamed the sea?," Legg said. PTI