Peacock spiders are a genus, Maratus, of small jumping spiders native mainly to Australia, named for the males' brilliantly colored, fan-like abdominal flaps that they raise and display in an elaborate courtship dance to attract females. The genus has grown rapidly in recognized species since the early 2000s as more of its intricate courtship patterns and vivid coloration have been documented by researchers and photographers.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Maratus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web: Maratus (Animal Diversity Web account)
Animal Diversity WebFood Habits
Maratus spiders are daily hunters and feed primarily on small insects such as crickets and other spiders
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Maratus spiders feed on insects, which helps to control the size of the insect population
Habitat
Species in Maratus are found in a variety of habitats, ranging from semi-arid to temperate coastal areas.
View the Source 2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ1995662, descriptionView the Source 3. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Maratus
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyTaxon recordQuote, Taxon record
"canonicalName": "Maratus"
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