Two researchers in Australia have discovered a new spider and named it “Abba transversa”, writes studyfinds.org. The spider is small – just three or four millimeters – and has so far been found in coastal areas of New South Wales and Queensland.
The two researchers, Pedro Castanheira and Volker Framenau, chose the name for a simple reason – they like Abba and wanted to honor the Swedish pop artists. Perhaps there will be more opportunities – according to Pedro Castanheira, 80 percent of Australian spider species are still unknown.
Nor is Abba transversa the only pop or rock spider. In the past there are, among other things, Aphonopelma johnnycashi (Johnny Cash) and the underwater spider Desis bobmarleyi (Bob Marley). The Clash singer Joe Strummer has named a deep-sea snail, Alviniconcha strummeri.
See pictures of the spider in the clip above.