A newly discovered species of spider sports a striking red and white pattern on the back that resembles the grin worn by Batman’s former foe, the Joker. The resemblance is so curious that the researchers who discovered this arachnid named the species in honor of actor Joaquin Phoenix, who played the grinning, tormented villain in the 2019 big movie “Joker.”
The new species of velvet spider has been named Loureedia phoenixi and has been found in Iran; It is the first Loureedia spider identified outside the Mediterranean region. Its genus now has four species.
On the back of male L. phoenixi spiders, a bright red one stands out against a white background, as does the Joker’s disconcerting smile. However, if you think you could identify this curious pattern clearly, you are wrong: you would need a magnifying glass to see it clearly, since the spider’s body is only 8 millimeters long and is covered in tiny hairs.
When I saw the movie Joker last year, I realized the close similarities between my spider and the character, which was later confirmed by some of my friends and colleagues. Considering all this, it seemed like a good tribute to name this beautiful species after Mr. Phoenix, in recognition of his fantastic portrayal of the character. I hope this species is as memorable as his performance, “explains Alireza Zamani, from the University of Turku (Finland).
Reference: A new and easternmost species of Loureedia (Aranei: Eresidae) from Iran. Arthropoda Selecta 29 (2): 239–243 June 2020. DOI: 10.15298 / arthsel.29.2.09
