Maratus vespertilio (Simon 1901)

Otto, Jürgen C. & Hill, David E., 2017, Two new peacock spiders from southeastern Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch 1878), Peckhamia 153 (1), pp. 1-34 : 30

Maratus vespertilio (Simon 1901)

Several examples of the courtship display of the related Maratus vespertilio have been taken from a video production (Otto 2012) for purposes of comparison with M. sapphirus ( Figures 32-36 ). Corresponding to the decoration of legs III of male M. vespertilio (black anterior femora and long off-white fringes below the distal segments), these legs can figure prominently in the display of this species, something not observed in M. sapphirus . Two modes of leg III display are shown here, the first with the legs held in a vertical position and moved apart then suddenly brought together at ~4-8 cycles/s ( Figure 32 ), and the second with legs III raised but flexed in a near vertical position than bilaterally lowered to a more horizontal position at a rate of ~2.5 cycles/s ( Figure 33 ). A third mode of display ( Figures 34-36 ) involved only the bobbing (lowering and then raising) of the expanded fan at a rate of about 4-12 cycles/s, movement that may be intended to change the intensity or brightness of light reflected toward the front. In all of their courtship displays, Maratus vespertilio males hold the pedipalps apart to expose their black chelicerae.

M. vespertilio is also the only member of the genus Maratus known to engage in ritual male-male contests or agonistic displays ( Otto & Hill 2012a). This display employs the same features as courtship display (elevated fan, extended legs III) but is quite different. For example, the pedipalps are held together. At a distance males assume a crouching position and threaten each other with the sudden extension of legs III as the fan is held in an elevated position. At close quarters, male M. vespertilio take turns as they spar with their legs I.

Figures

Figure 32. Consecutive video frames (25 FPS) showing caliper-like or pinchers movement (arrows, ~4-8 cycles/s) of vertical, extended legs III during display by a male M. vespertilio.

Figure 33. Sequential but not consecutive video frames (25 FPS) showing bilateral movement (arrows, ~2.5 cycles/s) of extended legs III during display by a male M. vespertilio.

Figure 34. Sequential but not consecutive video frames (25 FPS) showing depression and elevation of the expanded fan (arrows, ~6-8 cycles/s or 0.12-0.16s/cycle but not continuous) during display by a male M. vespertilio.

Figure 35. Consecutive video frames (25 FPS) showing depression and elevation of the expanded fan (arrows, ~6-8 cycles/s or 0.12-0.16s/cycle but not continuous) during display by a male M. vespertilio.

Figure 36. Consecutive video frames (25 FPS) showing three cycles of depression and elevation of the expanded fan (arrows, ~6-8 cycles/s or 0.12-0.16s/cycle but not continuous) during display by a male M. vespertilio.