New Species of Peacock Spider Discovered in Australia
- Maratus or commonly known as peacock spider belongs to the family Salticidae or jumping spider.[1]
- The male peacock spider is known to have colorful abdomen which is enhanced with lateral flaps during courtship.
- Joseph Schubert of Murdoch University in Australia discovered a new species of peacock spider.
- His work was published on March 25, 2021 in Evolutionary Systematics .
- The new peacock spider was given the scientific name Maratus nemo sp. nov.
- The new spider is described based from the five samples collected from the vicinities of Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry, South Australia.
- The new species is unusual compared to other members of its genus.
- The new species seems to inhabit ephemeral wetland on marshy vegetation in shallow water.
- Ephemeral wetlands are formed in closed depressions lacking a surface outlet and are wet only seasonally or in wet years.[2]
- Discovery of new species can be attributed to the increasing interest in amateur invertebrate photography.
- More putative new species are brought to attention of taxonomists by means of social media engagement.
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Sources:
Schubert J (2021) Maratus nemo: A new wetland species of peacock spider from South Australia (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini). Evolutionary Systematics 5(1): 71-80. https://doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.5.64922
