Australian spider named after Sir David Attenborough

The species 'Prethopalpus attenboroughi' commonly called goblin spider is a little over a millimetre in length and found only on Horn Island off northern Queensland.

The chief executive officer of the Western Australia Museum Alec Coles says Sir David was chosen because of his enthusiasm for nature and his ability to make biology accessible to generations of viewers over six decades.

"It is incredible that in the 21st century our scientists are still documenting and describing so many new species," Coles was quoted as saying by ABC News.

Previously a fossil of a fish that lived 380 million years ago was named materpiscis attenboroughi.

In an acceptance speech in Perth, Sir David said about his new namesake: "I take it that it is careful in its judgement, merciless, certainly beautiful and I will treasure it and I thank you very much indeed for this."

"I take it that it is careful in its judgement, merciless, certainly beautiful and I will treasure it and I thank you very much indeed for this," the BBC quoted him as saying.

The spider is commonly known as a goblin spider, so the scientists behind the find said that made it Attenborough's goblin spider.