Scientists love metal, it's a fact. With the metal gods guiding his way, Brent E. Hendrixson, Ph.D. discovered a new species of tarantula in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. After Hendrixson uncovered the spider, he put down his guitar and wiped off his corpse paint, held the tarantula to the sky and let out a mighty roar. From that moment on, the species would be forever known as Aphonopelma Davemustainei, after Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine.

Metal musicians have inspired the official scientific names of various new species in the 21st Century. In 2006, Dr. Mats E. Eriksson named a genus of extinct marine polycheaete annelid worm, Kalloprion Kilmisteri, was dedicated to Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. This year, the same doctor discovered the jaws of an unclassified marine worm. In keeping with his heavy metal tradition, the marine worm was christened 'Kingnites Diamondi' after legendary vocalist King Diamond.

After learning of the new tarantula species which now bears his name, Dave Mustaine posted a picture of the spider on his Twitter page, sharing his excitement with his fans.

How cool is this? I got my own tarantula named after me! Totally metal!!! twitter.com/DaveMustaine/s… — Dave Mustaine (@DaveMustaine) December 12, 2012

There are currently more than 850 classified species of tarantula, although it is believed that there are at least double that amount in existence.