Jeff Daniels says he’s ‘made it’ after scientists name parasite after him
said in a release.“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,” Daniels told UCR.The parasitic nematode — scientifically called Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi by those brilliant folks — ultimately starves tarantulas to death while also immobilizing the appendages around their fangs, according to the West Coast research facility.“When I first heard a new species of nematode had been named after me, I thought, ‘Why? Is there a resemblance?'”Putting it bluntly, the newfound microworms — just like Dr.