Male Spider 

Prelims (Facts) 

• Male peacock spiders are tiny, highly colorful jumping spiders (genus Maratus) found primarily in Australia. Measuring no larger than a grain of rice, males are famous for their elaborate, choreographed mating dances where they fan out brilliantly colored abdominal flaps and wave their legs to impress females. 

Key Characteristics

• Appearance: Unlike the dull-colored females, males feature vibrant, iridescent hues of red, blue, green, and orange on their abdomens. They also possess elongated third pairs of legs which they use as visual props during courtship.
• The Mating Dance: To attract a mate, the male raises his colorful abdominal fan and performs rapid, precise dances while vibrating the ground. Each of the 50+ identified species has its own unique choreography.
• High-Stakes Courtship: The male’s performance must be flawless. If the female is unimpressed, she may attack and eat him. 
• Vision: Like other jumping spiders, they have exceptional eyesight to spot mates and track prey on the forest floor or in garden shrubbery

IMPORTANT : Do not confuse this spider with Peacock Tarantula!