Weird World: New species of spider named after Greta Thunberg

A newly-discovered species of spider has been named after Greta Thunberg.

Peter Jaeger, a researcher from Frankfurt, has called the Madagascan spider ‘Thunberga greta’ after the teenage climate change activist.

Jaeger said he came up with the name to pay tribute to the 17-year-old’s environmental campaigning.

Peter said: “Her commitment to the fight against climate change and for a better future on our planet is impressive.

“The rising temperatures affect all areas of nature – including the endemic diversity and spider fauna of Madagascar.”

Jaeger has discovered a number of new spider species over the past two decades, with ‘Thunberga greta’ marking his 400th discovery.

He has also named spiders after celebrities in the past – such as Asian huntsman spider Heteropoda davidbowie, named after the late music icon.