Maratus speciosus, sometimes called the coastal peacock spider,[2] is an Australian species of jumping spider (family Salticidae).[1] 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 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.[2] Maratus speciosus derives from the arachnid class with both sexes measuring about 5 mm in body length, equivalent to a pencil eraser. They are known as the smallest species of spiders. This organism is known as diurnal cursorial hunters, meaning they feed on insects. Like any other jumping spider, they rely on their keen vision and jumping actions to help them travel and spot prey at far distances.
| Coastal peacock spider | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Subfamily: | Salticinae |
| Genus: | Maratus |
| Species: | M. speciosus
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| Binomial name | |
| Maratus speciosus (O. P-Cambridge, 1874)[1]
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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References
edit- ^ a b c "Taxon details Maratus speciosus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^ a b Otto, Jürgen; Hill, David E. (4 November 2012). "Notes on Maratus Karsch 1878 and related jumping spiders from Australia, with five new species (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryinae)" (PDF). Peckhamia. 103 (1): 42.
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Baehr, B., & Whyte, R. (2016). “The Peacock Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae: Maratus) of the Queensland Museum, including six new species.” Zootaxa, 4154(5), 501–525. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4154.5.1