Have you ever heard of a Peacock Spider? These little arachnids are members of the ‘Maratus‘ genus, and are not just your everyday spider. There are around 108 species known so far, but the vast majority have only recently been discovered and described in the last decade.
The Maratus genus, belongs to the family ‘Salticidae‘ and order ‘Araneae‘, and are all native to Australia with exception of one species – ‘Maratus Furvus‘ which is found in China. They are a spectacle of nature that has fascinated scientists but until they found worldwide fame on the internet in recent years, they were virtually anonymous and unheard of. They have some enchanting behaviours, particularly around mating that we will take a look at as we explore these awesome little spiders.
Appearance & Characteristics of Peacock Spiders
Peacock spiders are tiny, generally measuring between 2.5 to 6 millimeters (0.1-0.2 inches). They have very noticeable sexual dimorphism, with females being the larger of the two sexes. Despite their small stature, they have big personality and boast a vibrant palette of colours on their upper abdomen.
The males tend to be more richly coloured than the females, and they know it too, often flaunting their iridescent abdominal flap. This flap isn’t just for show though, it plays an important role in their captivating mating dances – more on that later. The females have a more muted and camouflaged colouring. Their standout features – other than their loud colouring – include large, expressive eyes that provide acute vision, which is important for hunting and also for their intricate courtship displays.
An Explosion of Species in the 21st Century
The 21st century brought with it an explosion of new species discoveries, with the count jumping from a mere 8 in the early 2000s to a massive 108 by 2022. The internet played a pivotal role in their fame, with their enchanting dances and vivid colours going viral on various platforms. This surge in interest intensified research and public curiosity, propelling scientists to delve deeper into the hidden world of these vibrant arachnids.
As most of the species have only recently been discovered, data on many of them is still sparse and research ongoing. It’s an exciting taxonomy and family tree, with plenty of activity as more information is discovered about the genus.
Distribution – Location and Habitat
Peacock Spiders of the Maratus kind are all but one, natives to Australia, and more specifically to the southern half of the continent. The exception to this is the Maratus Furvus species which is native to China. This is the only peacock spider known so far, to live outside of Australia. The only other species not found on the mainland, is Maratus proszynskii which can be found on the island of Tasmania.
Most of these spiders have very limited and occasionally sporadic ranges. Some can be found in Queensland, some in New South Wales and others across East and West Australia, but most species are found in the west. They live in various habitats across the continent. From the coastal dunes to the forest floors, these spiders have adapted to many different environments.
Description of 5 Common Peacock Spiders
Maratus Volans
- Features: Known as the ‘flying peacock spider’ due to its flaps that resemble wings.
- Physical Dimension: Around 4-5 mm in size.
- Location: Eastern Australia.
- Conservation Status: Not Yet Specified.
Maratus Speciosus (Coastal Peacock Spider)
- Features: Males showcase orange hairs during their dance.
- Physical Dimension: One of the tiniest spiders globally.
- Location: Coastal areas of Western Australia.
- Conservation Status: Not Yet Specified.
Maratus Sceletus (Skeletorus)
- Features: Black with white stripes, resembling a skeleton.
- Physical Dimension: Not Yet specified.
- Location: Wondul Range National Park, Australia.
- Conservation Status: Not Yet Specified.
Maratus Pavonis (Common Peacock Spider)
- Features: Not as brightly colored but still vibrant.
- Physical Dimension: Around 4 mm in size.
- Location: Across various regions in South Australia.
- Conservation Status: Not Yet Specified.
Maratus Jactatus (Sparklemuffin)
- Features: Recognized for its unique, rocking mating dance.
- Physical Dimension: Not specified.
- Location: Wondul Range National Park, Queensland.
- Conservation Status: Not Yet Specified.
The Lifestyle & Behaviour of Peacock Spiders
Peacock Spiders are diurnal hunters. They utilise their exceptional vision which spans the entire light spectrum, including UV, to both observe potential mates and locate and pounce on their prey. Males have incredible mating dances and features that they use to capture the attention of their potential mates. But if the female starts to bore or lose interest, she might become aggressive and either try to attack the male or even eat them.
This type of cannibalism is not unheard of with spiders, particularly after mating, and that is when the female is also more likely to turn on the male and see him as a tasty snack. Other examples where this is common, are with crab spiders and southern black widows.
Their communication is primarily visual, with males using their vibrant colours and intricate dances to convey messages, especially during courtship.
Peacock Spider Dance
Ah, the dance! This is the feature behind the internet attention that really brought these spiders into the limelight. If not for the dance, we may not yet know the abundant species of these little wonders that exist today!
Males show off their colourful abdominal flaps and third pair of legs to perform a very charming and hypnotic dance. All with the intention to woo the females into courtship. This dance isn’t just a physical display but a visual and audio spectacle too, where every move and vibration counts. A wrong step might just cost them their life (literally, as the female might eat them if unimpressed)!
Each species has it’s own dance, and it is one of the methods scientists use to tell some of them apart. Some may last only a few minutes, while others can last for nearly an hour.
Diet & Nutrition of Peacock Spiders
These tiny predators don’t build webs but are active, cursorial hunters, chasing and leaping on their prey with precision. Their diet includes various insects and sometimes other spiders. Although they are tiny, they are not afraid to take on prey larger than themselves. Some of their most regular prey include flies, winged ants, moths and where chance arises, larvae of small insects too.
As mentioned earlier too, the female might also make a meal from the male if not overly impressed with their dance, or when mating is done and the male has served his purpose.
Predators & Threats to Peacock Spiders
Predatory species of the Peacock Spiders are not well documented, but wasps, birds and larger spiders are considered to be the biggest predator threat. However, it is habitat loss through wildfires and also through controlled burning to prevent catastrophic runaway fires that are the major threat to these species.
While only one species from the genus Maratus is listed on the IUCN Red List as yet, it is thought that most species are in decline and endangered due to the constant threat of deforestation. Climate change is a direct contributing factor here too.
Peacock Spiders Reproduction
These spiders tend to mate during the Australian spring and females will only mate once in their lives. Males might try to mate with any female they see, and they are not very good at determining between a female that has already given birth, and one that is fertile. They will try it on with any female they see regardless. That can be a fatal move if they choose the wrong mate, as a female that has already had her young is not interested in their dance and can be very aggressive to unwanted male attention.
The male’s mating dance however, as mentioned earlier, is amazing. Before the dance, when the male first spots a female, he will start vibrating on his perch to get her attention. Once she is interested, the dance will begin. A real wonder to observe and if lucky enough they will be granted the right to mate.
Once mated, the male will often back off quickly before the female becomes aggressive towards him. The female will gestate until around December when she will lay her eggs in a silk sac. Some research observations describe the clutch containing as few as 6 eggs, and other accounts suggest hundreds of eggs. Environmental conditions, individual species and whether they are in captivity or the wild may contribute to different clutch sizes.
At any rate, the female stays with her eggs until they hatch after around two weeks. Se won’t leave her eggs during this time, not even to feed. Once hatched, it will be around another two weeks until the young spiderlings are independent. Mating season for these new spiders will start in the following spring so they mature quickly – males mature quicker than the females.
They don’t live for long after their babies have arrived. If lucky, they will live for around a year in total.
Population and Conservation
With 108 known species and new ones still being discovered – the list growing every year – the Peacock Spiders have certainly made their mark. However, detailed data regarding their population trends and conservation status is still in its infancy and not widely documented. Most species have only been discovered in the last 10 years and researching this many new species takes time and resources.
Despite limited data across the range of species, there is one species of Peacock Spider of the Maratus genus that is listed on the IUCN Red List. The species Maratus sarahae is listed as Critically Endangered, with a declining population and the most recent assessment was carried out in 2021. It is likely that over the next few years when data allows, many more species will be added to the list, under similar threat due to the significant environmental pressures these little spiders face.
5 Fun Peacock Spider Facts for Kids
- Jumping Champions: With incredibly strong legs, these spiders can jump up to 40 times their body length!
- Rainbow Vision: Peacock Spiders can see all colors of the rainbow and even UV light!
- Dance Masters: Males perform a colourful, intricate dance to impress females!
- Colorful Males: Only male Peacock Spiders showcase the vibrant, iridescent colours!
- Tiny Dancers: They are super small, with most measuring between 2.5 to 6 mm!
