Maratus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Family: | Salticidae |
Subfamily: | Euophryinae |
Genus: | Maratus Karsch, 1878 |
Type species | |
Maratus amabilis Karsch, 1878 |
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Species | |
see text |
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Diversity | |
7 species |
Maratus is a spider genus of the Salticidae family (jumping spiders). All described species are endemic to Australia.
Its best known member is the "peacock spider", M. volans, which is able to expand flaps on its abdomen, resulting in a colorful display used in courtship. The males of all known Maratus species use expanded flaps in courtship display.[1]
Several species in this genus were earlier classified in genus Saitis, containing the Mediterranean Saitis barbipes, which is superficially similar to M. volans (colorful males with enlarged third pair of legs). However, the two genera are in all likelihood not closely related.
Maratus live on or near the ground in low bushes (Hill 2009).
There are at least twenty species of Maratus (Waldock 2007), however only seven are described so far.