Five new species of spiders have been discovered and identified in Australia. The group also includes a strange example named after the Hamburg-born fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld (1933 – 2019). The Australian jumping spider is now officially classified under the name Jotus karllagerfeldi. The Hamburg-Brisbane-Melbourne team was fascinated by her distinct black and white coloring and compared her appearance to Lagerfeld's trademark: his white hair and white Kent collar, which contrasted with his black sunglasses and gloves.
The research team included Dr. Danilo Harms from the Center for Natural History at the University of Hamburg (CeNak), Dr. Barbara Baehr, Queensland Museum (Brisbane, Australia) and Joseph Schubert, Monash University (Melbourne).
Compared to other species of the spider genus Jotus, “Jotus karllagerfeldi” is characterized by black and white legs and tactile organs (pedipalps), while the typical representative of this group has striking red or blue colors.
“With its colors, the animal reminded us of Karl Lagerfeld’s reduced style. We associated the black leg limbs with the gloves he always wore and the huge black eyes with his sunglasses,” explained researcher Danilo Harms.
Four of the five new species come from Queensland and one from New South Wales. At just a few millimeters in size, they can be difficult to detect. Barbara Baehr, another member of the team, said more than 70% of Australia's spiders were still unclassified.
“Jumping spiders are among the most beautiful spiders in Australia, but overtheir diversity and taxonomyAlmost nothing is known,” said Baehr. “These tiny spiders are quickly capturing the hearts of the public and naturalists.”
An interesting feature of the genus Jotus is the huge front eyes with which they perceive their environment in three dimensions. The Jotus species do not build nets but hunt outdoors.
Also interesting is the fact that in 2017 the team named a water spider after reggae legend Bob Marley and his song “High Tide or Low Tide” – Desis bobmarleyi.
