Flamboyant peacock spiders
Wildly colored and patterned Australian peacock spiders are truly a sight to behold. German-born biologist Jürgen Otto and his American colleague David Hill have recently identified the latest seven species to be discovered, adding to the list of more than 40 others they have cataloged.
In addition to their spectacular coloring, the males are known for their crazy dancing courtship ritual. The arachnids are vivid, but tiny at just 3-5 mm in size, so these micro beauties would be easy to miss if it were not for the work of these two spider lovers.
This photo shows one of the most recently identified species of Australian peacock spider, the Maratus bubo.
Maratus volans
A Maratus volans rests on a thumbnail.
This species of the peacock spiders was first documented in 1874 by the Reverend Octavius Pickard-Cambridge. Peacock spiders weren't really given much attention for a long time. Jürgen Otto has made it his mission to give these spectacular arachnids the recognition they deserve. As an acarologist -- someone who studies mites and ticks -- he is uniquely able to spot these tiny creatures.
Australian peacock spider
A specimen of the newly-discovered Australian peacock spider, Maratus lobatus, shows off his colorful abdomen, an opisthosomal fan.
The German-born Otto first stumbled on a peacock spider after moving to Sydney from north Queensland in Australia. He has since spent hours upon hours watching and filming these tiny spiders.
Maratus avibus
Maratus avibus
It is the males of the species that are arrayed in glorious technicolor. The females are more plane janes.
Maratus volans
Maratus volans on a salmon-colored eucalypt leaf.
Peacock spiders, mostly found in temperate parts of Australia, have four pairs of eyes.
Australian peacock spider
A specimen of the newly-discovered Australian peacock spider, Maratus vespa, shows off his colorful abdomen.
Otto has spent hours upon hours watching and filming these tiny spiders. He believes that he is the first person to capture the male's courtship ritual.
Maratus australis
A specimen of the newly-discovered Australian peacock spider, Maratus australis, shows off his colorful abdomen.
When the male spider is aroused the third pair of legs rise up and get waived around to get the female's attention, his abdomen starts vibrating and the brightly colored flaps (the opisthosomal fan) open like a peacock's tail. A dance soon follows suit.
Maratus vultus
A specimen of the newly-discovered Australian peacock spider, Maratus vultus, shows off his colorful abdomen in Australia.
Otto has a fascinating and entertaining video on YouTube of Maratus speciosus in a courtship dance.
Maratus albus
A male Maratus albus (R) tries to attract a female in the Nuytsland Nature Reserve in Western Australia.
Otto's YouTube channel has attracted millions of views and his videos have been shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.
Maratus vultus
Maratus vultus
Otto has cataloged all his finds with scientific papers, published on Peckhamia, a jumping spider website started by David Hill.
Maratus karrie
Maratus karrie shows off turquoise and irridescent blues and reds.
The abdomen has a rigid patterned "plate" that also vibrates.
Maratus sceletus babies
Maratus sceletus babies
Maratus spicatus
Maratus spicatus
Peacock spiders have become the inspiration for fashion designs for bikinis, handbags, jewellery and shoes.
Maratus fimbriatus
Maratus fimbriatus
This species was found in northern New South Wales. This species differs from other peacock spiders because it raises the first pair of legs, not the third when trying to attract the female.
Maratus literatus
Maratus literatus
Otto and Hill calls this one "m-signitus" for the m-shaped figure on its head.
Maritus robinsoni
Maritus robinsoni
This spider appears in different colors every time it moves.
Maratus nigromaculatus
Maratus nigromaculatus
Maratus digitatus
Maratus digitatus
Maratus purcellae
Maratus purcellae
This species is probably the smallest peacock spider known so far, only 2.5 mm in length.
Maratus clupeatus
Maratus clupeatus
Clupeatus means "shield bearer," according to Otto, and is a reference to the opisthsomal plate. It has so far only been found in the suburbs of Perth.
Maratus clupeatus
A closeup of the opisthsomal plate on a Maratus clupeatus.
For more from Jürgen Otto on Australian peacock spiders: