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A sneaky spider has been named in honour of rock musician Neil Young .
Jason Bond , a life scientist at East Carolina University , key out a fresh discovered arachnid , Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi . It is also known as a trapdoor spider .
This trapdoor spider, Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi, was named in honor of Neil Young.
" There are rather strict rules about how you name new species , " Bond said . " As long as these rules are followed you could give a new species just about any name you please . "
He added , " With regards to Neil Young , I really enjoy his music and have had a great grasp of him as an activist for peace and justice . "
Bond discovered the trapdoor spider last class in Jefferson Co. , Ala. , and later he and co - author Norman Platnick of the American Museum of Natural account in New York officially described the species in a diary article .
The genusMyrmekiaphilarefers to a group of trapdoor spiders . Like some of its relatives , the newly name spider life history in a tunnel and craft a trap door to varnish off its animation quarters from parasites and predatory animal .
" Just as orb - weaving spider make vane out of silk , these more rude spiders alsouse silk , but not [ for web ] , " Platnick toldLiveScience . " They use it to line burrows , and an extension of the liner is part of the trap door . "
The hinged chapeau also render a underhanded path of snag dinner party . This pose - and - wait predator cling out behind its camouflaged gob door , look for a passer . When it sense the vibrations of a nearby louse , the spider pops give the silken flutter and drags the prey into its burrow .
To distinguish the " Neil Young " spider as a novel species , the scientists canvass both its physical features and genetical material . In general , taxonomist bank on differences in crotch to distinguish one spider species from another . Apparently , spiders have some of the most elaborate genital organ in the animal land .
" One theory is that there is a great deal of intimate choice as fight to natural selection in private parts feature , " Platnick said , so mate choice is based part on venereal features .
The new trapdoor spider is not the first animate being to have risen to rocker status . Thewhirligig beetle(Orectochilus orbisonorum ) was discover in honor of the late rock and roll ' n ' roll fable Roy Orbison and his widow Barbara .
And asteroid have been graced with nameshonoring Ringo Starrand the other members of the Fab Four . Other place rocks have been named for celebrities , such as rock musician Frank Zappa , and the classic composers Mozart , Bach , Beethoven and Brahms .
