New Mushroom Species Named After 'SpongeBob'

It wasn't discovered living under a pineapple or even under the sea, but a new mushroom species has been named after SpongeBob SquarePants. The species unearthed last year in Malaysia was dubbed Spongiforma squarepantsii because of its spongy similarities to the popular cartoon character, reports National Geographic. (Click the link to see photos.)

“It’s just like a sponge with these big hollow holes,” says the San Francisco State University researcher who found it. “When it’s wet and moist and fresh, you can wring water out of it and it will spring back to its original size. Most mushrooms don’t do that.” This isn't the only species named for a cartoon character. A beaked toad discovered last year in Colombia was nicknamed the "Mr. Burns Toad" in honor of the Simpsons character. (More SpongeBob stories.)