How well do you know your Orson Welles?
The genus of spiders, Orsonwelles, all have species names referring to films involving the great man himself. Below is a list of all thirteen species - for how many can you spot the link?
| O. malus | O. calx | O. ventus |
| O. bellum | O. iudicium | O. polites |
| O. ambersonorum | O. arcanus | O. othello |
| O. macbeth | O. falstaffius |
Read all about the spiders here.
Orsonwelles malus
Malus is the Latin adjective meaning 'evil', is derived from the film “Touch of Evil” (1958). Top
Orsonwelles calx
This species is named after Harry Lime, Welles’ character in Carol Reed’s movie “The Third Man” (1949). Calx is the Latin for 'lime' (as in the mineral). Top
Orsonwelles ventus
Ventus, meaning 'wind,' refers to Welles’ posthumous (and unfinished) film “The Other Side of the Wind.” Top
Orsonwelles bellum
This species, collected below the radio tower on Mount Kahili, is named after Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast of H. G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds.” Bellum means war in Latin. Top
Orsonwelles iudicium
Derived from the film “The Trial” (1962). Top
Orsonwelles polites
Derived from the film “Citizen Kane” (1941). Polites is the Greek for citizen. Top
Orsonwelles ambersonorum
Derived from the film “The Magnificent Ambersons” (1942). Top
Orsonwelles arcanus
Arcanus means ‘hidden’ or ‘concealed,’ and is derived from the film “Mr. Arkadin/Confidential Report” (1955). Top
Orsonwelles othello
Unsurprisingly refers to Welles’ version of “Othello” (1952). Top
Orsonwelles macbeth
Once again, no prizes for guessing that this refers to “Macbeth” (1948). Top
Orsonwelles falstaffius
In the film “Chimes at Midnight” (1966) Welles played Falstaff. Top
Read all about the spiders here.
Thanks to Gustavo Hormiga for supplying all the images and info
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