Incredible Photos of Peacock Spiders

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Amazing display

This is the peacock spider Maratus volans. Jürgen Otto was the first to film this spider's mating dance.

(Image credit: Jürgen Otto)

This is the peacock spider Maratus volans. Jürgen Otto was the first to film this spider's mating dance, in Australia. The animal got him interested in filming other peacock spiders.

Maratus speciosus

This is the peacock spider Maratus speciosus.

(Image credit: Jürgen Otto)

This is the peacock spider Maratus speciosus.

Showing off

The peacock spider Maratus mungaich. Otto films these spider with the video option on his DSLR, a Canon 7D with a 100 mm macro lens.

(Image credit: Jürgen Otto)

The peacock spider Maratus mungaich. Otto films these spider with the video option on his DSLR, a Canon 7D with a 100 mm macro lens.

Purcell's peacock spider

This is Purcell's peacock spider.

(Image credit: Jürgen Otto)

Unlike some of the other peacock spiders, Purcell's peacock spider doesn't have as large of a flap to unfurl to impress his mate. But he still does okay.

Tiny spider

The Purcell's peacock spider, like most of its ilk, is quite tiny.

(Image credit: Jürgen Otto)

The Purcell's peacock spider, like most of its ilk, is quite tiny.

Up close

This is the tail flap of the peacock spider Maratus speciosus.

(Image credit: Jürgen Otto)

This is the tail flap of the peacock spider Maratus speciosus.

Doing the dance

Peacock spider Maratus calcitrans doing his dance in front of a female.

(Image credit: Jürgen Otto)

Peacock spider Maratus calcitrans doing his dance in front of a female.

Crouching & showing

The spots of <em>Maratus harrisi</em> almost look like the eyes of a damselfly.

(Image credit: Jürgen Otto)

The spots of Maratus harrisi almost look like the eyes of a damselfly.

Douglas Main
Douglas Main
Douglas Main loves the weird and wonderful world of science, digging into amazing Planet Earth discoveries and wacky animal findings (from marsupials mating themselves to death to zombie worms to tear-drinking butterflies) for Live Science. Follow Doug on Google+.