Maratus

Maratus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Salticidae
Subfamily: Euophryinae
Genus: Maratus
Karsch, 1878
Type species
Maratus amabilis
Karsch, 1878
Diversity
43 species
Synonyms

Lycidas

Maratus is a spider genus of the family Salticidae (jumping spiders). These spiders are commonly referred to as peacock spiders due to their colorful abdominal flaps that they display during courtship.[1] In at least one species, Maratus vespertilio, the expansion of the flaps also occurs during ritualised contests between males.[2]

All described species are endemic to Australia. Several species in this genus were earlier classified in the genus Saitis, containing the Mediterranean Saitis barbipes, which is superficially similar to Maratus (colorful males with enlarged third pair of legs).

Maratus live on the ground or in low bushes.[3]

Jürgen Otto's 2011 video showing a male displaying for the first time was featured on the Australian ABC TV program Catalyst.[4] By early 2016 Jürgen’s YouTube video of the Peacock Spider Maratus speciosus displaying to a female[5] had over five million views.

Species

There are 57 species of Maratus:[6]

The only non-Australian species, M furvus from China, cannot be linked to any genus with certainty.[7]

Relationships

Otto and Hill have suggested that Maratus is closely related to the genus Saitis. Both are found in Australia, and in both genera the males have elongated third legs and unmodified first legs.[9]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Otto, Jurgen; Hill, David E. (2011). "An illustrated review of the known peacock spiders of the genus Maratus from Australia, with description of a new species (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryinae)" (PDF). Peckhamia 96 (1): 1–27.
  2. ↑ Otto, Jurgen; Hill, David E. (2012). "Contests between male Maratus vespertilio". Pechamia 98 (1): 1–17.
  3. ↑ Hill, David E. "Euophryine jumping spiders that extend their third legs during courtship". Peckhamia 74 (1): 1–27.
  4. ↑ Otto, Jürgen (10 March 2011). "Peacock Spider video and transcript on Catalyst 10 March 2011". Catalyst on abc.net.au. ABC. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Otto, Jürgen (1 March 2013). "Peacock Spider 7 (Maratus speciosus)". Peacock Spider 7 (Maratus speciosus). YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Otto, Jürgen C.; Hill, David E. (1 January 2014). "Spiders of the mungaich group from Western Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryinae: Maratus), with one new species from Cape Arid" (PDF). Peckhamia. 112.1.
  7. ↑ Otto, Jürgen C.; Hill, David E. (2012). "Notes on Maratus Karsch 1878 and related jumping spiders from Australia, with five new species (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryinae)" (PDF). Peckhamia 103 (1).
  8. ↑ Two Peacock Spiders Discovered In Australia: Skeletorus And Sparklemuffin
  9. ↑ Otto, Jürgen C.; 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: 2–4.

References

External links

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