The Peacock Spider’s Dance Makes the Ladies Swoon

Similar to how peacocks shake their feathers to impress mates, did you know that a species of spider does the same? The peacock spider, just like normal peacocks, uses an elaborate dance to impress potential mates in a courtship ritual. Using a display similar to a peacock, it’s one of the most complex courtship rituals in the animal kingdom. This video by the BBC shows this ritual happening! Read below to learn more about this unique spider courtship.

Peacock Spider Courtship Ritual

Peacock spiders are tiny jumping spiders native to Australia. At only one-fifth of an inch in size, their elaborate courtship rituals are difficult to see with the naked eye. They inhabit leaf litter, grasslands, and sand dunes, using their sharp vision to hunt for prey in these environments. To start their courtship ritual, male peacock spiders use an interesting method to make themselves known. By rapidly vibrating their abdomens, males send signals through the leaves and twigs where females are perched. These vibrations quickly draw their attention as the vibrations trigger sensory hairs on the female’s legs. After gaining the female’s attention, the male will begin his dance.

Even with their tiny size, the peacock spider’s dance is one of the most complex courtship dances in nature. To start, the male spider will raise his third pair of legs in the air, flagging down the female to pay attention to him. Once he has her attention, the male raises his opisthosomal flaps, which are extensions of his abdomen. These flaps are extremely colorful and bright, similar to the beauty of a peacock’s tail, with colors like red, blue, green, and orange. With his legs and flaps raised, the male moves back and forth in semi-circles around the female, trying to show off as much of himself as possible.

After Mating

This dance is high risk and high reward! If the female likes what she sees, the pair will mate. However, if she is not impressed, she may attack and eat him, making it imperative for the male to perform well. This high-stakes courtship ritual is a wonder to biologists for its complexity and importance. If successful, the male may not get another chance to mate, as studies show that female peacock spiders usually mate only once, while males may attempt to mate with multiple females during their short lifespan. Even after successful mating, the female spider may still eat the male, making peacock spider reproduction extremely dangerous. This is sexual cannibalism, a common trait among spider species.