Pisauridae mickfanningi, notable for its genitalia. And being named for Mick Fanning. Photo: Brisbane Times
Shark-punching three-time world champion Mick Fanning just earned an accolade no other surfer can claim: He now has a spider named after him. And not just any spider: one notable for its distinctive genitalia.
The arachnid in question is Pisauridae mickfanningi, a water spider native to the Scenic Rim region of Queensland. After it was discovered, the World Science Festival held a competition to name the creature, prompting hundreds of submissions. The winning name came from a Brazilian scientist-slash-surfer. The requirements were that name submissions had to be related to Queensland, the competition or World Water Day.
“It’s pretty awesome to know that the spider is quite local to the Gold Coast and only a short drive from Snapper.” White Lightning told the Brisbane Times.
The arachnologist at the Queensland Museum, Dr. Robert Raven, said the species sports intricate patterns that can look like skeletons or ghosts. “What makes this species even more special is that it has a very distinct color pattern and quite different genitalia, which makes it quite easy to differentiate between others in the group.”
