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New Spider Named After David Bowie

David Bowie's alter-ego Ziggy Stardust once fronted a band called the Spiders From Mars. Now his moniker is adorning the scientific name of an arachnid right here on Planet Earth.

No glass spider, this; the eight-legged insect-catcher now known as heteropoda davidbowie is very much made of flesh, blood and yellow hair. The recently-discovered spider lives in isolated parts of Malaysia, and is endangered.

According to the Observer, the arachnid was named by German spider expert Peter Jager, who honoured Bowie because of the 1972 album 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'.

Mr Jager, who has discovered some 200 new types of spider-kind in the last 10 years, believes naming spiders after celebrities helps publicise their plight. Traditionally environmental groups have overlooked the plight of spiders, preferring cuddlier causes such as the giant panda or seal cubs.
But, Mr Jager, argued, spiders deserved equal effort: "Along with the species, we are also quickly losing genetic resources that have evolved over more than 300 million years."

Bowie is not the first rock star to get a spider named after him – in 2008, Canadian rock veteran Neil Young was paid tribute in eight-legged form with his own creepy-crawly, myrmekiaphila neilyoungi. Now that's a double bill you don't want to find coming to a bathtub near you...

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Jeri

Thomas Blake...I believe in God and I still think your post is one of the bast I have ever read....there is way too much killing done but I think it is done in the name of"religion" not God....

September 12 2009 at 6:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LoveGod

Thomas Blake, you are a very SICK man.

September 12 2009 at 2:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jessi

Robert, you are 100% correct! Although there are insects and creatures we may not like, they serve a purpose! I too have taught my children what species are dangerous, and not to kill a spider or snake just becuse they happen upon one! My spider is actually a great teaching tool for my kids. I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked to bring her to school (especially after she has molted as then they get to see what she leaves behind) when they are studying spiders. As a bonus, they are also great pets to have around to keep the in-laws from wanting to drop in from out of town and expect to crash at your home!

September 12 2009 at 2:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sprinkle Cookie

Okay, that's its "formal name." Are they going to give it a common name, like "Ziggy Spider" or "Bowie Spider?"
:)

September 12 2009 at 1:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave P

A picture of Bowie as Ziggie would be nice. I supose knowone took a picture of the spider.

September 12 2009 at 1:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Echo

i personally am intrigued with this finding, YELLOW huh? i must admit i have my own share of scary and unusual experiences with spiders, but if we think of how these powerful webs link our worlds together... we may appreciate the idea that was formed in someones mind~:)thankfully they are not in control of the world( not yet)or we might be caught, rolled into a web roll and eaten, now there's food for thought~*

September 12 2009 at 1:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JesusH.Christ

Don't be afraid my children

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01476/bowie_1476453c.jpg

September 12 2009 at 1:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
S

to saLlyM Cutner- You apparently don't understand the vital role arachnids play in our world. They eat thousands of insects- especially West Nile carrying mosquitos. If it weren't for spiders and bats, we would be in grave danger from the overpopulation of mosquitos alone! 1 bat and 1 spider can wipe out hundreds of insects per day. You would be overrun with insects if it weren't for them. As for the spiders you mentioned, I have all of those here too, however, I have taught and shown these and other species to my children and taught them where and how they live as well as what to do in case they should ever be bitten by one. Education is power, not the obliteration of a species. Don't deny your children the right to knowledge and education just because you're afraid of the subject matter. I also built a bat-house and have been thankful ever since. Go to your local library or look up spiders and bats online and learn more about them, you won't be sorry you did. There are millions of different life forms on this planet that are absolutely fascinating, jump in and explore a little bit, you'll have fun.
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Robert, Ghis and those who are feeling oh-so-superior to those of us who are not fans of spiders,

I have a horrible fear of spiders and I am neither uneducated or ignorant. I do realize the beneficial service spiders perform, specifically with the mosquito population. I also know that some spiders can be deadly to human beings...particularly to children.

I was bitten by a brown recluse spider nearly 20 years ago and almost lost my right hand as a result. I developed osteomyelitis and septicemia and eventually had surgery to remove a portion of bone from a finger. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. The surgeon said then that this bite to an infant would most likely have been fatal.

I'm not sure exactly when I was bitten, but I believe it was while I was in bed asleep. I had a clean home. I had not seen any sign of spiders (outside of an occasional house spider). I certainly had no reason to believe I was in danger simply by sleeping in my own bed.

Now, I kill spiders when I find them in my home or car. I simply cannot tolerate the idea of them in my home.

You go ahead and feel superior to me for your love of spiders...I choose feeling safe.

September 12 2009 at 1:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to S's comment
Jim

While I sympathize with your situation (i am highly allergic to bees) my gripe with Sally was the fact that her post came across as uninformed and unconcerned with animals besides besides humans. If you live in an area with an animal that is dangerous there are usually precautions one can take to prevent an encounter. For example, Sally can teach her kids to avoid certain spiders and to not leave food around that would attract spider prey. She can teach them to look in their shoes and bedcovers before using them. You also must keep in mind that your incident was 20 years ago as well.

September 15 2009 at 4:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
S

My experience may have been 20 years ago, but I still have a missing section of bone, a finger that won't bend, occasional pain that has persisted and last I knew, those spiders are no less venomous than they were then.

September 15 2009 at 4:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JesusH.Christ

Don't be afriad my children...

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01476/bowie_1476453c.jpg

September 12 2009 at 1:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon

Tina--you mustn't be so quick to critique others:
Bowie's persona was'Ziggy Stardust' and his band were 'the Spiders from Mars'

September 12 2009 at 12:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply