Aphonopelma johnnycashi: Jonny Cash tarantula species discovered near California's Folsom Prison

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The biggest ever taxonomic investigation on tarantulas found 14 new species in the US, including one which was named after legendary singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. A study analysed more than 3,000 specimens of tarantula across the US, and the research found there are 29 species across the country – nearly half of which had never been recorded before.

American tarantula species appear very similar in how they look, and past reports from the public have often been very vague or tend to overlap with other species. Researchers set out to officially describe all of these species themselves. They published their results in the journal ZooKeys.

"We often hear about how new species are being discovered from remote corners of the Earth," said Chris Hamilton, lead author of the investigation. "But what is remarkable is that these spiders are in our own backyard. It is astonishing how little we know about our planet's biodiversity, even for charismatic groups such as tarantulas."

One of the species discovered was named after Johnny Cash – Aphonopelma johnnycashi. It was found near Folsom Prison in California, the penitentiary that inspired Cash's song Folsom Prison Blues.

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http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/aphonopelma-johnnycashi-tarantula-named-after-singer-johnny-cash-among-14-new-us-species-1541984

[Voice for Peace]

1. The Tarantula in Black

[NV Whino]

2. I don't see a guitar

[keithbvadu2]

5. Bet it could play great.

Not so much on the vocals, though.

[Solly Mack]

3. But I scared a man in Reno

just to watch him cry.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. ....

[Solly Mack]

7. :)

[shenmue]

9. Beat me to it

[Solly Mack]

10. lol!

It does come to mind!

[lob1]

6. They found him in the middle of the road...walking the line.

[burrowowl]

8. Good one!

[Initech]

11. I walk the web