We love when worlds collide and today, a new species of Spider was found within the genus Eriovixia which contains 20 species of orb-weaving spider and is widely distributed across Asia and Africa.
Found in a shrub in Karnataka, India the above female spider is grayish brown and leaf shaped. Its resemblance to other members of its genus showed that its differential of it's genitalia and exoskeleton meant that it should be a new species. The scientists noted that the name choice was derived from "an effort to draw attention to the fascinating, but oft overlooked world of invertebrates and their secret lives," E. gryffindori is meant to be "an ode from the authors, for magic lost, and found."
Of course they shared the name with Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling (whose response you can see below via Twitter) as well as their full findings that were published in the Dec. 2016 issue of the Indian Journal of Arachnology.
.@curiocritters I'm truly honoured! Congratulations on discovering another #FantasticBeast! 👉🕷✨ pic.twitter.com/NJ4Fe27F1r
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 11, 2016