Look out Peter Parker, a new web-slingers in town: iconic singer-songwriter Neil Young. The Toronto-born 62-year-old recently gained his spidey senses after having his very own spider named after him, an honour few have received even Parker.
When East Carolina University biologist Jason Bond discovered a new species of trapdoor spider, he opted to name the arachnid after Young, calling it Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi. "There are rather strict rules about how you name new species, Bond said in a statement, Reuters reports. "As long as these rules are followed you can give a new species just about any name you please. With regards to Neil Young, I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice.
The biologist came across the new species of spider in Jefferson Country, Alabama, in 2007. Bond says the spiders belonging to the trapdoor genus distinguish themselves from one species to the next on the basis of their genitalia and primarily live in burrows sealed off with trap doors. (Sorry, no witty Neil Young reference is coming to mind on this one.)
And while Young now can bask in this arachnid-fuelled glory, he is not the first musician to have had a creepy critter named after him. A species of beetle looking like it is sporting a tux was named Orectochilus orbisonorum earlier this year after Roy Orbison. But dont worry Neil, spiders are way more rocknroll.
When East Carolina University biologist Jason Bond discovered a new species of trapdoor spider, he opted to name the arachnid after Young, calling it Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi. "There are rather strict rules about how you name new species, Bond said in a statement, Reuters reports. "As long as these rules are followed you can give a new species just about any name you please. With regards to Neil Young, I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice.
The biologist came across the new species of spider in Jefferson Country, Alabama, in 2007. Bond says the spiders belonging to the trapdoor genus distinguish themselves from one species to the next on the basis of their genitalia and primarily live in burrows sealed off with trap doors. (Sorry, no witty Neil Young reference is coming to mind on this one.)
And while Young now can bask in this arachnid-fuelled glory, he is not the first musician to have had a creepy critter named after him. A species of beetle looking like it is sporting a tux was named Orectochilus orbisonorum earlier this year after Roy Orbison. But dont worry Neil, spiders are way more rocknroll.
