Surf star Mick Fanning admits to being surprised, after finding out a new species of water spider is being named after him.
The rare species of water spider will be named Pisauridae mickfanningi. It's found in vine thickets and rainforests near Canungra in the Gold Coast Hinterland.
“It’s pretty awesome to know that the spider is quite local to the Gold Coast and only a short drive from Snapper,” Mick says.
Pisauridae mickfanningi CREDIT: Queensland Museum
The name was chosen after a competition at the recent World Science Festival in Brisbane.
“Both Mick Fanning and the Queensland scientists who discovered this new species of spider are world leaders in their respective fields, so it’s fitting to bring the two together in this way,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.
Queensland Museum arachnologist Dr Robert Raven said the new spider is quite delicate and ornate with a beautiful pattern on its back.
“What makes this species even more special is that it has a very distinct colour pattern and quite different genitalia, which makes it quite easy to differentiate between others in the group,” Dr Raven says.