A wolf spider crab species has been named after Aragog - a giant, talking arachnid from J K Rowling’s popular fantasy Harry Potter series.
Researchers, including those from University of Tehran in Iran have named the newfound spider ‘Lycosa aragogi’ which has a one inch long body (excluding the legs).
It has two black and three white stripes of setae, or hairs, on its upper body.
The arachnid also has black setae on the appendages by its mouth, ‘giving the spider a charismatic look,’ while its abdomen is covered with black and white setae.
The animatronic puppet created for the movie ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ was based on the anatomy of a wolf spider.
Since it was also the 20th anniversary of the series, scientists thought it might be a good idea and celebration of this wonderful franchise.
The spider was spotted in a mountainous region of southeastern Iran’s Kerman Province.
Large wolf spiders do not build webs, but stay in their burrows during the day and hunt at nighttime, stalking their prey.
Most live for about three years
Wolf spiders carry their egg sacs on their bodies and periodically expose the developing spiders to light and heat from the sun for better development.
Once the spiderlings are born, the mother keeps them on her back and feeds them for the first few weeks.
“This nurturing behaviour is not so different from that of Aragog, who ‘loved his colony of ‘Acromantulas’ - a fictional species of spider.
