New Snail Species Found In FL Named After Jimmy Buffet's Iconic Song

FLORIDA KEYS — A new snail species found on a coral reef in the Florida Keys was named in honor of the late singer and sailor Jimmy Buffet.

The bright-yellow snail was named Cayo margarita as an homage to the late singer’s well-known song, “Margaritaville,” according to LiveScience.com. Buffet died on Sept. 1 at age 76.

Meanwhile, Cayo, the species’ genus, translates to “low island” and relates to how the snails appear on the coral reef.

• Also Read: 'Margaritaville' Singer Jimmy Buffett Dies At 76

The worm snail, which doesn’t have a traditional shell, shoots out toxic mucus webs, according to a study published in PeerJ. The snail also attaches itself to a piece of coral and stays there for life.

"I first spotted the unusually bright colors of the living animals while diving in the Keys — they almost looked artificially illuminated," Rüdiger Bieler, the study’s lead author, told Newsweek. "At the time, we could not be sure that they represented a new species, because many of the worm snail species that had been described in the literature were based on empty shell tubes."

The self-described “Parrothead” — a nickname for Buffet fans — told CNN that when his team spotted the snail, they were immediately reminded of margaritas.

“In some ways, our team was no stranger to the regional signature drink. And of course, Jimmy Buffett’s music,” Bieler said. “So when we came up with a species name, we really wanted to allude to the color of the drink and the fact that it lives in the Florida Keys.