Maratus hesperus (Otto & Hill 2017) Otto & Hill, 2021

Otto, Jürgen C. & Hill, David E., 2021, Catalogue of the Australian peacock spiders, Peckhamia 148 (4), pp. 1-35 : 1

Genus Maratus Karsch 1878

new junior synonyms of Maratus : Hypoblemum Peckham & Peckham 1886 [type species Acmaea villosa Keyserling 1883 , synonym of Hypoblemum griseum ( Keyserling 1882) ] Saratus Otto & Hill 2017 [type species Saratus hesperus Otto & Hill 2017 ] new or restored combinations: Maratus griseus ( Keyserling 1882) , combination restored Maratus hesperus (Otto & Hill 2017) , new combination Maratus scutulatus (L. Koch 1881) , combination restored

This DNA-based phylogenetic study supported most of the groups used in previous versions of this catalogue ( Otto & Hill 2019b), but also suggested several changes that are reflected in this new version (Figure 1). Notably the spicatus group is now included in the chrysomelas group, M. sceletus has been moved from the calcitrans group to the anomalus group, and M. australis , M. pardus and M. plumosus have been removed from their respective groups. The phylogeny of a large southwestern clade (clade 41 in Figure 1) remains to be resolved, but we have largely retained our earlier groups here as each represents species with shared characters, particularly with respect to courtship behaviour.

The genus Maratus includes a diverse variety of at least 91 described species endemic to Australia, including 11 recently described ( Otto & Hill 2019 c, 2020, Schubert 2020b, Waldock et al. 2020). Not included in this catalogue are 10 species that have previously been assigned to Lycidas Karsch 1878 and whose affinity is uncertain: anomaliformis, bitaeniatus, chlorophthalmus, furvus, heteropogon, michaelseni, obscurior, piliger, pilosus, and vittatus.

This catalogue should be viewed as a work in progress. Except for the scutulatus group, only adult males are illustrated. Each range map shows areas that have been identified in prior publications (white circles), or by unpublished observations and posted photographs that we consider reliable (yellow circles). Each marked area may include multiple localities of record.