Thirty-three new trapdoor spider species discovered in the American southwest
Thursday, December 20, 2012 - 16:30
in Biology & Nature
A researcher reports the discovery of 33 new trapdoor spider species from the US. Most species are from California, a biodiversity hotspot, and represents the largest discovery of new animal species in the US in over a decade. New species bear the names of prominent individuals: Barack Obama, Edward Abbey, Bono, Dorothea Lange, Penn Jillette, and César Chávez; one is named for George Lucas' Star Wars creature, the Sarlacc.