The Hilarious Mating Ritual of the Peacock Spider

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Written by Kellianne Matthews

Published: December 16, 2024

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Dancing Male Peacock Spider  (Maratus gemmifer)
[email protected]/Moment via Getty Images

With its colorful display and mesmerizing moves, the peacock spider is like a tiny, fuzzy disco ball. But believe it or not, the hilarious dance you’ll see in this video is actually serious business: it’s the peacock spider’s way of wooing its mate. But it’s a performance of a lifetime because if he fails to impress, it could cost him his life!  

Nature’s Smallest Dancers

wide shot of a male maratus splendens courtship display. M. splendens is an australian peacock spider

These adorable arachnids were first recorded way back in the 1800s, but until recently, they remained largely unnoticed because of their incredibly tiny size. These colorful spiders are so small they could easily sit atop the tip of your pencil eraser, measuring just 1/16 inch to ¼ inch!

Until 2011, scientists only knew about seven species of peacock spiders in the genus Maratus. However, thanks to better cameras that could zoom in on incredibly tiny objects, incredibly detailed pictures and videos featuring peacock spiders began to emerge. Social media also played a large role in the peacock spider’s rise to fame when a video of a male spider performing his ritual mating dance went viral. As of December 2024, we’ve now identified over 100 species of peacock spiders!

A Tiny But Shiny Spider

Male peacock jumping spider (Maratus tasmanicus) on Carpobrotus plant.

Female and young male peacock spiders typically have brown or beige coloring, while adult male peacock spiders are the real showstoppers. Their bodies are covered in a fine fuzz that makes them shimmer and shine with bold and vibrant iridescent patterns

When a male peacock spider is ready to find a mate, he really puts on a show. He has tiny, overlapping scales on his abdomen that diffract and break light into many vibrant colors, producing a shimmering, iridescent effect. He can also extend an unusual flap on the abdomen, making his colorful back end stand up big and bright. They are called peacock spiders because this technique is similar to how a male peacock shows off his incredible feathers to catch a female’s eye. 

The Peacock Spider’s Spectacular Show

Male maratus volans peacock spider courtship display

There’s more to the peacock spider’s charm than just his looks. Male peacock spiders are also masters of dance, performing intricate movements uniquely specific to each species. Many lift their elongated legs high into the air as if performing disco moves or trying to direct an airplane. They also create their own rhythms by vibrating their bodies as they dance. Peacock spiders use many different types of vibrations, including tremulation (rapid movement of their abdomen), percussion (drumming their legs on the ground), and stridulation (rubbing their body parts together to produce sound). Although small in size, peacock spiders have incredibly powerful legs, allowing them to perform complex dances that can last up to an entire hour!

If the female spider isn’t impressed with the male’s dance moves, she kills and eats him. However, if his dance is successful, the two will mate — and then she’ll try to kill and eat him anyway. 

Where Do Peacock Spiders Live?

A curious common peacock spider.

Peacock spiders live in the southern regions of Australia and can be found in a variety of different environments. They are most active during their breeding season from August to December (Australia’s spring). Peacock spiders have excellent eyesight for hunting insects and other spiders. 


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About the Author

Kellianne Matthews

Kellianne Matthews is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on anthrozoology, conservation, human-animal relationships, and animal behavior. Kellianne has been writing and researching animals for over ten years and has decades of hands-on experience working with a variety of different animals. She holds a Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University, which she earned in 2017. A resident of Utah, Kellianne enjoys creating, analyzing movies, and hanging out with her dog and cats.

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