Newly Discovered Tarantula Named After Johnny Cash

Who wouldn't want a new species of tarantula named after them?  Auburn University and Millsaps College authored a proposal to name  on of 14 new tarantula species after The Man in Black.

The Aphonopelma johnnycashi was discovered in the desert near Folsom, California. The lead author of the study, Dr. Chris Hamilton said in a press release:

"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."

From Mashable.com:

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."

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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