A strikingly patternednew species of velvet spiderhas been find out in Iran , which mark the first meter a variety of velvet spider has been found outside the Mediterranean . Its given name , Loureedia phoenixi , was inspired by Joaquin Phoenix follow his prize - winning performance in the movieJoker , in particular the Joker ’s characteristic smiling , which the researcher saw in the wanderer ’s unusual marking .
Alireza Zamani , an arachnologist and systematist from the University of Turku , said he first became aware of the wanderer ’s existence after a photo was posted of it on social media . The wanderer regrettably was n’t collected so Zamani extend out in search of his own specimen .
" In 2016 , I did manage to gather up one specimen , but unfortunately it got fall behind during the transportation , and we were not able to key out the species , " Zamani told IFLScience in an audience . " Then , I decide to take off some public awareness and " citizen science " projects about this coinage … to encourage local naturalists to collect specimens for scientific studies . This ensue in the solicitation of the fresh material that we used in our composition ( and several other new species of velvet spiders ) , and gathering of many photographic records , which enabled us to have a more vindicated reason of the statistical distribution , phenology , and ecology of this beautiful spider . "
The life story of velvet spider , namedLoureediaafter the guitar player and singer of the Velvet Underground , Lou Reed , is quite a grisly one . Before her spiderlings concoct , a female velvet wanderer begins to biologically educate her eubstance so that it can be easily digested by her materialisation . Once the baby have hatched , they first feed their young by regurgitating food for thought , but all the while their abdominal tissues are continue to break down . Once complete , the seasonable degradation gives her youthful the best chances of endurance , as they will fee on their female parent ’s eubstance before heading out into the worldly concern , a behaviour know as matriphagy .
It ’s perhaps fitting then that a theatrical role plunge in malevolency and violence should serve as the namesake for a spider born from such sinister beginning . Of course , the main inspiration linking this velvet spider , officially described in the journalAnthropda Selecta , to the fancied character is the unique marking on its back , which the researcher felt mirrored the famous grin of the Joker , skirt by the eerie white facial expression paint reminiscent of the buffoon of nightmares .
" For me , choosing the ' right ' name for my young species is normally a time eat but rather fun action , " Zamani sound out . " If you’re able to total your own personal touch to it , it would be the crème de la crème !
" When I saw the movieJokerlast year , I realized the close similarity between my wanderer and the grapheme , which was after confirmed by some of my friends and fellow worker . Considering all of this , it seemed like a nice homage to name this beautiful species after Mr Phoenix , in recognition of his fantastic portrayal of the character . I go for that this coinage will be as memorable as his operation . "
While a fear of spider is a common phobia , this brilliantly colored hair ball is really quite endearing . Unless you ’re not a fan of mother spiders melting their interior so that their babies can pierce their abdomen and suck out the nutritive goo , in which case …
