Introducing Sparklemuffin and Skeletorus, New Peacock Spiders! Who exactly are Sparklemuffin and Skeletorus?
Skeletorus (Maratus sceletus), one of the newly named species of Peacock Spider, got its name from the white markings on the males’ dark limbs, which give them the look of a skeleton. (T0 see what Skeletorus looks like Click Here)
Sparklemuffin was the pet name Maddie Girard, a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Berkeley, gave Maratus jactatus, which has blue and red stripes on its midsection. (Check Out Sparklemuffin by Clicking Here)
.jpg "Maratus_nigromaculatus_(14563344896) (1)")
Peacock spiders are only found in southern Australia and little academic study has been done on them. Until, Australian scientist and photographer Dr. Jurgen Otto, helped to discover 20 new species of peacock spider in the past four years.
Peacock spiders are a type of jumping spider, related to common jumpers you may have seen yourself. Jumping spiders don’t weave silken webs to catch prey, but instead hunt and stalk their prey. To see the Peacock Spider dance please check out this video! http://qz.com/699171/a-scientists-love-story-with-the-eccentric-and-largely-unknown-peacock-spider/