Maratus speciosus

Western Australia SpidersSpider Index Aname sp Dingosa sp Jotus sp Maratus griseus Maratus hortorum Maratus pavonis Maratus speciosus Mituliodon tarantulinus

Maratus speciosus, known as the Coastal Peacock Spider, is an species of jumping spider endemic to Australia. They are found in the coastal sand dunes vegatation habitats from coastal areas of Perth through to the southwestern region of Western Australia.

Like other Maratus spiders, the males of the species engage in a courtship display during which they raise their third pair of legs and their abdomen, presenting their colourful opisthosomal plate to potential female partners. Accompanying their elaborate dance moves, males beat their front and back body halves together, sending vibrations that travel through the ground which the females pick up, stimulating them into receiving higher chances of a successful mate. Unlike other Maratus, however, the males of this species have a set of bright orange hairs (setae) along both edges of the opisthosoma which only become visible during this display

A male Maratus speciosus frantically running around looking for a female. The spiders are often found on the plant Tetragona decumbens (the plant grows at Trigg Beach and along the coast).

This is a male Maratus speciosus at the beach looking for a female. They run around looking and when they think they have found a girl, they wave their longer third leg to try to get attention. It is thought they could be releasing pheremones from the leg to help with the attraction.

“Maratus speciosus sometimes called the coastal peacock spider, is a species of Australian jumping spider. They are only known to inhabit the vegetation of the coastal sand dunes of southwestern Western Australia. Like other Maratus spiders, the males of the species engage in a courtship display during which they raise their third pair of legs and their abdomen, presenting their colorful opisthosoma plate to potential female partners. Unlike other Maratus, however, the males of this species have a set of bright orange setae along both edges of the opisthosoma which only become visible during this display.”

Source: Wikimedia Commons, Coastal_peacock_spider.jpg

I’m here!! If there is the slightest glimpse of a female spider, the male lifts one of its third legs which is longer than the rest. A little white tip on the end must make it more visible!

The female moves and hunts around on the plants. If she sees a male, she will sit and watch the male until she is happy enough for him to make a move toward her. It isn’t unusual to see many male spiders to be courting one female.

Trigg Beach is a favourite surfing beach that also is home to a special jumping spider — Maratus speciosus — a little jumping spider, less than 5 mm in size.

The spots in the water are surfers waiting for a wave to surf on. Occasionally a bigger wave comes in and then they surf on it. At the time we were there, the water was very flat but by lunch time the waves were building and they would have had a good surfing time during the afternoon. There are a number of reefs just there so the water isn’t too deep for the waves to build and break.

Source: Jean and Fred Hort

Maratus speciosus — a little jumping spider, less than 5 mm in size. This is the male who will wave his legs and lift his abdomen with the hairs flared, to attract a female in the hope for mating.

Check out our general section on Spiders > Spider Index | Maratus

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Chelicerata
• Class: Arachnida
• Order: Araneae
• Infraorder: Araneomorphae
• Family: Salticidae
• Subfamily: Salticinae
• Genus: Maratus
• Species: Maratus speciosus

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Western Australia SpidersSpider Index Aname sp Dingosa sp Jotus sp Maratus griseus Maratus hortorum Maratus pavonis Maratus speciosus Mituliodon tarantulinus

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