Scientists formally recognise newly discovered “Blue Face" Peacock Spider in AU; study its unique mating method

A newly found arachnid has been formally recognised as member of the growing Australian native peacock spiders which carries unique features, a new study shows. The Maratus personatus, or the Blue Face peacock spider, has been described by scientists as "pretty unique" compared with other peacock spiders, with its blue mask and a unique mating display.

The tiny creatures, which have just been discovered by the naturalist David Knowles, was first found in western Australian coastal bushland near Albany about 20 years ago. But the Maratus personatus - derived from the Latin personatus for masked - was only formally recognised on July 28, in a study published in the journal Peckhamia.

The new Australian arachnid was dubbed as “Blue Face” Peacock Spider due to its blue scales or mask that covers the male's face. David Hill, the study co-author and editor of the Peckham Society, explores the unique mating method of the spider that uses unique dance moves to seduce female peacock spiders.

The Blue Face belongs to the little Australian native family of peacock spiders that are just three to five millimetres long. The authors said the new member also uses vivid colours to attract a female which is natural to the Maratus family, but the male Blue Face does not have a fan-like abdomen that it extends while trying to court females. The Blue Face, according to the study, relies on its blue scale and the characteristic white banding around it to attract other spiders.

The male species are found to carry bright colours and does acrobatic mating dances to attract female ones. The male Maratus, to lure a female for mating, waves its third legs in the air in rapid, bizarre movements intended to impress the female, Hill noted.

However, during the mating period,the female Maratus rotates her abdomen 180 degrees, for instance. Females have a range of genitalia in different shapes and sizes, whereas other peacock spider females generally have the same genital structure, Hill stated. The discovery of the Blue Face sums up to more than 50 recognised species of Maratus or peacock spiders from Australia.

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