Researchers Name New Parasitic Worm In Honor Of Jeff Daniels

Jeff Daniels is well-known for his work in television, cinema, and multiple stage productions. Arachnophobia is a 1990 American comedic horror film that is one of Jeff’s best. A newly found parasitic worm has been named after Jeff Daniels.

Jeff Daniels is now the proud namesake of a tarantula-killing, hermaphroditic species of worm. Scientists at the University of California, Riverside found a rare kind of worm that targets and kills tarantulas. The worm was named “Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi” after the actor because his role in the 1990 horror-comedy film “Arachnophobia” protects a town from a lethal swarm of spiders.

There are around 25,000 known species of nematodes, which are cylindrical parasitic worms that are among the most numerous animals on the planet. However, Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi is just the second time it has been identified to infect tarantulas, according to UC Riverside.

According to Variety, Daniels expressed his opinion in a statement provided by UC Riverside parasitologist Adler Dillman, who led the team that discovered the nematode that Daniels’ character in “Arachnophobia” is “a spider killer, which is exactly what these nematodes are.”

“When I first heard a new species of nematode had been named after me, I thought, ‘Why? Is there a resemblance?’ Honestly, I was honored by their homage to me, and ‘Arachnophobia.’ Made me smile. And of course, in Hollywood, you haven’t really made it until you’ve been recognized by those in the field of parasitology.”

The jeffdanielsi nematode was discovered after a wholesale tarantula breeder approached Dillman in September 2019 for assistance in finding a mystery ailment in some of their tarantulas. The new worm species was revealed as the culprit by UC Riverside scientists; an infection by jeffdanielsi causes the appendages that regulate the tarantula’s fangs to cease functioning, and the spiders finally die of hunger.

Dillman intends to conduct more research on this, as well as how breeders might treat or perhaps prevent jeffdanielsi infections. Let’s see if they can uncover any other interesting details about this worm. Keep an eye on Thirsty for more updates.

What’s your opinion on this one? Let us know in the comments!