Peacock Spider

The Peacock spider or Gliding spider (Maratus volans) is a species of jumping spider. The red, blue and black colored males have flap-like extensions of the abdomen with white hairs that can be folded down. They are used for display during mating: the male raises his abdomen, then expands and raises the flaps so that the abdomen forms a white-fringed, circular field of color. The species, and indeed the whole genus Maratus have been compared to peacocks in this respect. The third pair of legs is also raised for display, showing a brush of black hairs and white tips. While approaching the female, the male will then vibrate raised legs and tail, and dance from side to side.
source

Photographs by Jurgen Otto

4 Responses to “Peacock Spider”

1. Peacock Spider « Evilry says:

   November 3, 2009 at 8:02 pm

   [...] Spider Posted in daily evil by kevin powers | View commentsComments via [...]

   Reply
2. Monica Dickey says:

   November 7, 2009 at 6:01 am

   Wow that thing is really cool looking!

   That’s crazy how small it is, I was guessing it would be a big spider until I saw that.

   Can spiders even see color?

   Reply
3. Jurgen Otto says:

   November 9, 2009 at 9:51 pm

   Hi,

   my name is Jurgen Otto and I am the photographer who took these images. I don’t mind them being published here but could the poster please mention my name in the post, e. g. photographs by Jurgen Otto

   Thanks

   Reply
4. stefan says:

   December 4, 2009 at 1:45 am

   these need to be genetically engineered to be huge. best spider ever.

   Reply