Flying Peacock Spider (Maratus volans)
(O. Pickard-Cambridge 1874)
The ‘Flying Peacock Spider’, like all other Maratus spp., does not fly. The ‘wings’ are for courtship display. This Maratus is widespread throughout Australia, abundant on the coast of New South Wales at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park near Sydney, Seal Rocks on the coast about 80 km NE of Newcastle, and Coolah Tops an inland site about 200 km NW of Newcastle.
This one was collected by Martin Stevens at Crows Nest near Toowoomba.
(photo/text: Robert Whyte)
