Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New 'Johnny Cash' Tarantula Uproots Spider Family Tree (14 new species found in U.S.)
National Geographic ^ | Feb 4, 2016 | Michael Greshko

Posted on 02/04/2016 8:56:25 PM PST by dayglored

A challenging, years-long survey has uncovered 14 new species of U.S. tarantula, including one named after Johnny Cash.

Some, like Aphonopelma madera, live on forested "sky islands," mountains surrounded on all sides by Arizona's deserts. Others, like the tiny Aphonopelma atomicum, nestle themselves in silk-lined burrows near Nevada's nuclear test sites.

And Aphonopelma johnnycashi, named for the legendary country musician, makes its home near Folsom Prison, California.

True to form, adult males are mostly black, a getup of which Cash--the Man in Black--would have no doubt been proud. (Also see "New Tarantula (Not Beetle) Named After John Lennon.")

To uncover the new species, a three-person team led by the Florida Museum of Natural History's Chris Hamilton spent more than a decade on the hunt, logging thousands of miles of travel across the United States, hundreds of hours of laboratory analysis, and fieldwork on remote mountains and in scorching deserts.

"For such a popular organism in our culture, whether it's Hollywood movies or B movies, there's not really much work that's been done on tarantulas," says Hamilton. "Past arachnologists would get really frustrated and give up."

"It's a massive, massive amount of work, but that's what it takes," he says. "There's no easy way around it."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalgeographic.com ...


TOPICS: Gardening; Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: arachnid; arachnids; awsomespiders; cutespiders; folsomprison; hugaspider; ilovespiders; johnnycash; spider; spiders; tarantula
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last
To: digger48

lol! How long before she would go back in the room?


21 posted on 02/04/2016 10:46:33 PM PST by Ken H
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Ken H

It was her pet!


22 posted on 02/04/2016 11:26:24 PM PST by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day

a spider named sue Ping


23 posted on 02/05/2016 1:11:45 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored



24 posted on 02/05/2016 1:44:51 AM PST by Stand Watch Listen (Was addicted to the Hokey Pokey...but I turned myself around...((@))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored; 21stCenturion; 75thOVI; Abathar; alarm rider; albee; Alice au Wonderland; Amityschild; ..
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
HUMOR

>> PING <<
No amateurs, please.
Send FReepmail if you want on/off ISHP list
The List of Ping Lists

25 posted on 02/05/2016 2:03:43 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dp0622
NYC eh? Woody Allen will come over when you need spider control.

Honey there is a spider in your bathroom the size of a Buick

26 posted on 02/05/2016 2:32:06 AM PST by xp38
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Anoreth

Arachnid friends.


27 posted on 02/05/2016 2:48:21 AM PST by Tax-chick ("We have no values in common with Saudi Arabia."~ Daniel Greenfield)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

28 posted on 02/05/2016 2:56:47 AM PST by lowbridge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

29 posted on 02/05/2016 2:57:59 AM PST by lowbridge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xp38

I’ve been killing spiders since I was 30.

Great movie :)

of course he uses National Review.

We break up for two weeks and you’re dating a Right Wing Rock and Roll Star


30 posted on 02/05/2016 3:13:04 AM PST by dp0622
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro
"NOW YOU GONNA DIE!!"

OMG spit coffee all over the place! Good morning!!

31 posted on 02/05/2016 6:18:21 AM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: dp0622
i didn’t know there were going to be pictures

Screw this crap, I'm outta here.........fast!

32 posted on 02/05/2016 6:21:10 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Dear Santa: Please find a home for every homeless and unwanted cat and dog that is suffering)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dayglored
To uncover the new species, a three-person team led by the Florida Museum of Natural History's Chris Hamilton spent more than a decade on the hunt, logging thousands of miles of travel across the United States, hundreds of hours of laboratory analysis, and fieldwork on remote mountains and in scorching deserts.

10+ years' worth of paychecks for jaunting around the country. Nice work if you can get it.

33 posted on 02/05/2016 6:32:15 AM PST by Moltke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Some of the comments say that it is on Netflix.


34 posted on 02/05/2016 7:26:31 AM PST by TheOldLady (I miss the Gipper. Wish we had someone like him. ~ Pres. Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Hot Tabasco

lol! i was


35 posted on 02/05/2016 8:01:26 AM PST by dp0622
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: digger48

ROFL!! Ah, that’s different! My niece absolutely dreads spiders, as do my sisters, so I assumed the same about your girl.


36 posted on 02/05/2016 9:16:30 AM PST by Ken H
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Aw! So cute!


37 posted on 02/05/2016 4:17:20 PM PST by DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: dp0622
Your fear of spiders is irrational. Most aren't poisonous. In fact, many are cute like this one...


38 posted on 02/05/2016 4:19:12 PM PST by DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis

you’re a sick pup if you think that’s cute!!

the devil’s spawn!!!

alright, maybe i’m overreacting a little bit.

i work overnights, and while asleep before, i heard, for two hours i think, my wife screaming about a bug and running from room to room begging the cat to get her.

Thank goodness for NyQuil.


39 posted on 02/06/2016 2:44:29 AM PST by dp0622
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: dayglored
Seeing the headline made me immediately think of Johnny with One Bad Pig...

Johnny Cash & One Bad Pig - Man In Black

It also brought a smile remembering my encounters with the Haitian Brown Tarantulas. These things were HUGE but apparently harmless to humans as the MK's (boys, never the girls) would keep them in a shoebox as pets.

You haven't lived until you are investigating why your usually docile dog is barking furiously @ 2AM when you realize you are intersecting one of these "beauties" in your house. Oh, and they can jump several feet in the air when threatened. I can smile now...

40 posted on 02/06/2016 8:51:11 AM PST by Prov1322 (Enjoy my wife's incredible artwork at www.watercolorARTwork.com! (This space no longer for rent))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson