Maratus is a relatively large genus of jumping spiders found in Australia and China.
Commonly referred to as peacock spiders, they have a total body length mostly around 4-6 mm, and are most noted for their spectacular courtship display.
Adult males have colorful and usually iridescent patterns on the upper surface of the abdomen often enhanced with lateral flaps or bristles. By contrast, females are cryptic in appearance and lack bright colors.
The discovery of the new species, named Maratus nemo, brings the total number of species in the genus to 92.
“The specific epithet refers to the coloration of the male of this species which resembles that of the character Nemo in the 2003 Walt Disney film Finding Nemo,” explained Dr. Joseph Schubert, an arachnologist at Museums Victoria and Murdoch University.
Maratus nemo is between 4 and 5 mm in length, and has a really vibrant orange face with white stripes on it.
The species was first spotted by Sheryl Holliday, an ecological field officer for Nature Glenelg Trust, in South Australia.
“I’ve seen about 40 individuals all up at three different locations,” Holliday said.
“I’m sure there would be more in the south east of South Australia and in western Victoria as well.”
“Maratus nemo is known only from 9.5 km SSE of Mount McIntyre, 9.4 km SSE of Mount McIntyre, and 14.1 km E of Nangwarry,” Dr. Schubert said.
“Curiously, it was found in an ephemeral wetland complex on marshy vegetation in shallow water.”
“No other species of Maratus are known to occupy such habitats.”
The description of Maratus nemo was published in the journal Evolutionary Systematics.