Exclusive: Tom Hardy's Venom Inspires Naming Sensation for Recently Found Spider Species
Marvel's Venom leaves its mark on Australia as a newly unearthed spider species takes inspiration from Tom Hardy's iconic portrayal Marvel fans, brace yourselves for an encounter with this captivating arachnid, but remember to approach with caution
A new study published in the journal Evolutionary Systematics has named a recently discovered species of spider from Australia Venomius tomhardyi, after actor Tom Hardy and his representation of the Marvel character Venom. The researchers found that the spider's thorax displayed distinct black markings that resembled the patterns observed on Venom's head when he merges with Eddie Brock, played by Hardy in the films. While Venomius spiders, belonging to a newly identified genus, possess venom to immobilize their prey, it is generally not potent enough to pose a substantial danger to humans. Nevertheless, encountering one of these spiders in the shower would likely not be ideal.
In the field of taxonomy, it is common to draw inspiration from popular culture when naming species. Recently, a snake was discovered in the mountains of Peru and given the name Tachymenoides harrisonfordi, as a tribute to the actor Harrison Ford. Apart from this snake, Ford's name has also been given to an ant species called Pheidole harrisonfordi and a spider species known as Calponia harrisonfordi.
When asked about these honors in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August, Ford expressed both humility and confusion. He found it "humbling" that scientists were naming creatures after him, but he also found it puzzling that these creatures were often ones that provoke fear in children. Ford humorously remarked, "I don't understand. I spend my free time cross-stitching. I sing lullabies to my basil plants, so they won't fear the night."
In early 2023, a butterfly was named Saurona, a tribute to the ominous character Sauron from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The choice of this name was influenced by the butterfly's wing patterns, which resembled the fiery eye depicted above the stronghold of Barad-dur in Peter Jackson's film adaptations. Similarly, in 2022, the furthest star known at that time was named Earendil, in homage to a character from Tolkien's The Silmarillion.
Venom will have a prominent role in Insomniac's upcoming PlayStation exclusive game, Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
