Aptostichus stephencolberti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aptostichus stephencolberti |
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Aptostichus
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stephencolberti
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Aptostichus stephencolberti is a type of spider that belongs to the family Euctenizidae. This spider was named after the American comedian and TV host, Stephen Colbert. Scientists discovered this unique spider along the California coastline in 2007.
Meet the Stephen Colbert Spider
This special spider, Aptostichus stephencolberti, lives on sand dunes along the coast of California. You can find it in areas like Big Sur, Point Lobos, and near the Golden Gate in the San Francisco Peninsula.
Compared to some of its relatives, like the Aptostichus angelinajolieae (which is named after actress Angelina Jolie), the Stephen Colbert spider is usually lighter in color. Both the male and female spiders have brownish-yellow legs and main body parts. Their abdomen (the back part of their body) is lighter with faint dark stripes. Interestingly, male Stephen Colbert spiders have six small "teeth" on their mouthparts, while females have five.
How the Spider Got Its Name
The story of how Aptostichus stephencolberti got its name is quite fun! It all started when Jason Bond, a biology professor, named another spider species after the rock star Neil Young. Stephen Colbert, a famous TV host, heard about this on his show, The Colbert Report.
Colbert joked that he was upset because no animal had been named after him yet. He even started asking for a species to be named in his honor! He claimed that he already had an eagle and a turtle named after him (though not officially by scientists), so why not a spider?
Later, on his show, Stephen Colbert announced that Professor Bond would indeed name a spider after him. Colbert joked, "And all I had to do was shamelessly beg on national television." The two talked on the phone to decide which spider it would be. Since there were 27 different spider species that could be named, Professor Bond made the final choice.
The name Aptostichus stephencolberti was officially announced on The Colbert Report on August 6, 2008. Stephen Colbert pronounces his last name with a silent "T," and so, the last "T" in stephencolberti is also silent!
Images for kids
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Male specimen (holotype)
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Female specimen
See also
In Spanish: Aptostichus stephencolberti para niños
