Sparklemuffin
Maratus jactatus Otto & Hill, 2015
Size of a grain of rice
These spiders are incredibly tiny, measuring only about 4 to 5 mm in length, making their elaborate features and dances even more astonishing.
Elaborate mating dance
The male performs a complex, high-stakes courtship dance to attract a female. This involves raising his third pair of legs like “pom-poms,” vibrating his body, and flashing a hidden, colorful abdominal flap. The Latin name jactatus means “rocking,” referring to this signature dance. If the female is unimpressed by his performance or has already mated, she may attack and eat him.
Harmless to humans
Despite being spiders and possessing venom, they pose no threat to humans. Their jaws are too weak to penetrate human skin.
Field notes
| Range | Southern Queensland, Australia |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | Approximately one year |
| Size | Males to 4.5 mm, females to 5.3 mm |
| Weight | Likely only a few milligrams |
| Colour | Males blue and red-orange; females brown and gray |
| Diet | Small insects and spiders |
| Family | Over 100 peacock spiders known |
In the book
The Sparklemuffin is number 10 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
