Meet 2 New Spider Species: 'Skeletorus' and 'Sparklemuffin'

[n2doc]

A male of the peacock spider species Maratus jactatus, which is nicknamed Sparklemuffin, lifts its leg as part of a mating dance.

Two gorgeous new species of peacock spiders nicknamed "Skeletorus" and"Sparklemuffin" have been discovered in Australia, according to a new report.

Peacock spiders are so-named because of their bright colors and their dancelike, courtship rituals.

The two new species were found in southeast Queensland by Madeline Girard, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley who studies peacock spiders, and a friend who went with her into the field. Girard affectionately gave the nickname Sparklemuffin to one of the species, Maratus jactatus, which has bluish and reddish stripes on its abdomen.

A male of the peacock spider species Maratus sceletus, which is nicknamed Skeletorus.
Credit: Jürgen Otto


She nicknamed the other species Skeletorus for its white markings on a black background, which make it look a bit like a skeleton. Sparklemuffin looks similar to three previously discovered species in this group of peacock spiders, whereas Skeletorus looks very different from all the other known species in the group.

more
http://www.livescience.com/49957-new-species-peacock-spiders.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Sparklemuffin...what a great name...

I like spiders. We have some pretty ones down here, esp. Golden Orbs.

[Enthusiast]

3. This is what happens when we allow women to name spiders.

I kid. [URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Mr. Dixie just got into hot water for that remark.

But he said..."girls".....

[Enthusiast]

8. But I was only teasing.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. I know you were....I caught that.

[NV Whino]

2. Those are beautiful

I love Sparklemuffin!

[hunter]

4. Skeletorus might be as colorful as Sparklemuffin in other spectrums of light.

I see a hint of blue there.

[Xipe Totec]

5. Beware of the Ferocious Sparklemuffin

I bet you can't say that without bursting into laughter.

[Warpy]

7. Well, except these guys are really tiny

The adults are a whopping 5 mm. in length, meaning most people in Oz have simply never noticed them.

[countryjake]

12. That is one awesome video, music and all!

Thanks for finding that!

[Xipe Totec]

13. +1

[countryjake]

14. I went & watched all 12 of peacockspiderman's videos...

but he doesn't seem to have one of that new Sparkle Muffin Peacock Spider on YouTube, yet.

I did find some of those new discoveries on his FaceBook page here, tho:

https://www.facebook.com/PeacockSpider



Adding a didgeridoo to the dance was quite apropos, I thought.

(somebody at YouTube snagged Jurgen Otto's original vid and dubbed the spider dancing to YMCA )

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. I am laughing at the drunk looking dance!

Way cool on you to have posted that gif so quickly!

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. I know what song he is dancing to.....

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right

With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again.