Shimmering green beetle discovered on an Indonesian island is named Yoda

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A green, shiny beetle that is smaller than a fingernail has been discovered on an Indonesian island and named 'Yoda' due to its uncanny likeness to the diminutive Star Wars Jedi master.

Trigonopterus yoda is one of more than 100 new species of insect discovered and formally names in the thriving rainforest.  

Meanwhile, a group of three species were named after Asterix, Obelix and Idefix - the main characters in the French comics series The Adventures of Asterix.

Naturally, Trigonopterus obelix is larger and more roundish than his two 'friends'.

Other curious names include T. artemis and T. satyrus, named after two Greek mythological characters: Artemis, the goddess of hunting and nature and Satyr, a male nature spirit inhabiting remote localities. 

Three others have been named after the famous scientists Charles Darwin, father of the theory of evolution, and DNA pioneers, Francis Crick and James Watson.

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The small stature of the beetles made identification difficult. 

Distinguishing the animals apart and knowing whether a new species had been discovered or not included DNA sequencing.    

Coming up with novel names for such a large number was almost as taxing as finding them.   

In 2016 a weevil discovered by members of the same team in Papua New Guinea was given the name of Star Wars' Chewbacca.

This was in reference to the insect's characteristically dense scales reminiscent of Chewie's hairiness.

They are among 103 new species of the creepy crawlies that have been found in the remote rainforests of Sulawesi.