Can you see the elephant in Maratus elephans‘ fan?

Sparklemuffin mother and child.

Sydney-based mite specialist and peacock spider expert Jurgen Otto discovered Maratus elephans in the collections of the Sydney museum.

Jurgen Otto found Maratus elephans in samples donated to the Sydney Museum.

Jurgen Otto named Maratus elephans because he saw the face of an elephant in the pattern of its opisthosomal flap.

The jactatus part of the specimen’s full scientific name, Maratus jactatus, means rocking or jolting, a reference to the very rapid lateral rocking that punctuates the males’ courtship display.

This skeletor specimen was collected at Wondul Range National Park in southern Queensland. You can see video of his dance here http://on.fb.me/1938MG5

The reason for skeletorus’ (Maratus sceletus) nickname, and scientific name, is obvious. He looks like he’s wearing a skeleton outfit for Halloween. You can see video of his dance here http://on.fb.me/1938MG5

Unusually, the third legs of Maratus sceletus are never extended during their fan dance, but are evated in this flexed position.

Sparklemuffin was the pet name given to this charismatic specimen by PhD student Maddie Girard at the University of California, Berkeley, USA.