Scientists named a new species of tarantula after Johnny Cash

Scientists have proposed naming a newly discovered species of tarantula after the legendary musician Johnny Cash, according to a new study. The research, which was published on Feb. 4 in the journal ZooKeys, pared down the known tarantula species in the U.S. while announcing the discovery of 14 new species. 

The authors, from Auburn University and Millsaps College, proposed that one of the new species be named after the iconic singer-songwriter, who was famous for his black attire.

The Aphonopelma johnnycashi can be found in the desert southwest, including the land near Folsom, California, which was the subject of one of Cash's most famous songs and the site of his concert on Jan. 13, 1968. 

The study almost doubles the number of tarantulas known to inhabit the southwest, even though it reduced the overall total number of tarantula species that call the U.S. home.

"We often hear about how new species are being discovered from remote corners of the Earth, but what is remarkable is that

"These spiders are in our own backyard"

"With the Earth in the midst of a sixth mass extinction,
it is astonishing how little we know about our planet's biodiversity, even for charismatic groups such as tarantulas."

Tarantulas within the genus Aphonopelma can be found in 12 states across the southern tier of the country. 

Hamilton came up with the name because the species is found in California near Folsom Prison (famous for Cash's song "Folsom Prison Blues") and because mature males are generally solid black in coloration. Cash was so fond of the color black that he was known as the "Man in Black."

According to the new study, more than 50 different species of tarantulas had previously been reported to reside in the U.S., but many of these actually belonged to the same species. 

The research is the product of more than a decade of work searching for tarantulas in harsh landscapes, from deserts to mountains. In the end, about 3,000 spider specimens were analyzed, which a press release claims is the "most comprehensive taxonomic study ever performed on a group of tarantulas."

The researchers used a variety of techniques to separate out different species, from observations of spiders' appearance to genetic data. They concluded that 29 species of tarantulas lie within this particular genus in the U.S., 14 of which are new to science. 

While tarantulas such as the Aphonopelma johnnycashi can invoke terror in many people, they are largely harmless, Hamilton said. They rarely bite and are not dangerous, he said, calling them "teddy bears with eight legs."

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