spider named after David Bowie

[kboman]

Pretty cool, a newly discovered spider in Malaysia has been named after David Bowie. Naming endagered animals after celebrities is apparently not just a PR trick, it's a PR trick in this case to help put more spiders on the endagered species lists. Obviously the spider connection is clear in this case, so lets hope it works - there's pnly 500 of these particular beasties left in the world. Telegraph article here. Any more animals named after famous musicians?

I'm currently living in a cellar apartment and I'm seeing a few more large spiders than I'm altogether comfortable with... One just walked out of the room that was in the area of 7 to 9 centimetres across (dunno how many inches that is, but it's several).

Also in the animal news, a new species of rat the size of a cat has been discovered. Seems like a peaceful follow, though.

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

I think there are a few insects and arachnids named after famous people, not just musicians.  Just off the top of my head, there's one named after Gary Larson (The Far Side cartoonist) and I'm pretty sure there's one named after Bob Dylan as well...

 

[DangerousR6]

I have always thought that spiders came from another planet, for a creature to have 8 eyes and legs, it has to be alien..And I guess i was right...

"Bowie was apparently selected for the honour because of his musical contribution to arachnid world – the 1972 concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. "

 

[kboman]

I think I heard about the Dylan one. Really can't place it though.
Author Terry Pratchett has a turtle named after him (naturally, if you've read the books) which he is immensely proud of by all accounts... I'll bet Douglas Adams has one too.

 

[Mor Paul]

What about the Beetles?

 

[DangerousR6]

What about the Beetles?

John, Paul, Ringo and George.....

 

[NLD09]

Mark Knopfler has a dinosaur named after him.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Stephen Colbert has a spider named after him.

 

[nathan a]

Mark Knopfler has a dinosaur named after him.

I now have a definitive and concrete way to determine whether my life has been a success. To have a dinosaur named after me would be the coolest thing EVER

 

[kboman]

It's also a bit ironic... I bet Jagger has one as well  :icon_jokercolor: