Maratus vespa, Otto & Hill, 2016

Otto, Jürgen C. & Hill, David E., 2017, Catalogue of the Australian peacock spiders (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus, Saratus), version 2, Peckhamia 148 (2), pp. 1-24 : 17

The vespa group

This group is closely related to the linnaei group and it is also endemic to the southwestern corner of Australia. As do members of that group, vespa group males move their fan from side to side in front of attentive females at a distance of only a few millimeters, framed by their elevated and heavily fringed legs III. However vespa group males have prominent lobate flaps, and the lateral margins of these flaps are ornamented in a manner that attract a female when they are rotated far to the left or right behind the legs III. We are aware of at least one more member of this group that has not been described.

Maratus cristatus

Otto & Hill 2017

Maratus cristatus Otto & Hill 2017b

M. cristatus males come in two colours, brown as shown here and white. Like M. vespa , these are known from a single locality. The pattern and colour of setae on the fan resembles the Union

Jack, and the eight tufts of long white setae that extend behind the posterior margin of the fan make it easy to recognize this species. The name cristatus means "tufted" and this is also the species name of the Peacock ( Pavo cristatus ).