http://blog.al.com/live/2012/05/auburn_researchers_discover_ne.htmlA new species of spider has been discovered by Auburn researchers in Auburn, and it will carry the name of the university's mascot, according to a story at livescience.com.
The spider is called the Auburn tiger trapdoor spider or Myrmekiaphila tigris, according to the story. It belongs to the genus that includes among its now 12 species the famous M. neilyoungi, from Birmingham, Ala., named for rocker Neil Young.
"The discovery of a new species in a well-developed area like this further demonstrates the amount of biodiversity on our planet that remains unknown," study researcher Jason Bond of the Auburn University Museum of Natural History was quoted as saying.
Trapdoor spiders are close relatives of tarantulas and funnel web spiders, the story said, and look similar, though they have less hair on their bellies and legs that appear to be polished.
The spiders are just a few centimeters long, with females being larger and more "robust," Bond said. Males can be found in relatively large numbers wandering neighborhood sidewalks, in swimming pools and even in home garages between November and December, the story said.
