Newly Discovered Ancient Otter Species Named After Bob Weir

A species of otter that supposedly lived around 3.8 million years ago and is the earliest known species of North American River otter now officially has been named after Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, the Associated Press reports.

The discovery and subsequent naming is attributed to paleontologist Kari Prassack, who is credited for properly identifying a previously mislabeled jawbone that was discovered in the ’80s in Idaho. The “new” species is now named Lontra weiri, Lontra being the genus and weiri the species. Prassack followed the Dead around the country earlier in her life, seeing over 100 concerts beginning in 1990 when she was 15 until Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995, at which point she pursued her dream of paleontology.

“It was a really important part of my life,” says Prassack. “I really became an adventurous person, much more so than ever before. I decided if I wanted to do something, I could go and do it.” She has also attended many concerts from the several post-Garcia iterations of the Dead.

This is the first time Prassack has had the opportunity to name a species she’s discovered. “It was a great opportunity to say ‘Thank you,’ for such a great experience,” she says.