Maratus nemo
Nemo Peacock Spider Identification in Australia
Tiny South Australian peacock spider with a bright orange-and-white face, wetland habitat clue and jumping-spider movement.
Usually low riskAbout the Nemo peacock spider
Nemo peacock spiders are tiny Maratus jumping spiders described from the Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry area of South Australia. They are useful to compare when a very small wetland or marsh spider has large forward-facing eyes, orange-and-white facial markings and short jumping-spider movement rather than a capture web.
How to identify a possible Nemo peacock spider
Use the accepted species name Maratus nemo, but treat a photograph as a comparison rather than a confirmation. It is a tiny Salticidae jumping spider with the large forward-facing eyes and alert posture typical of Maratus. Adult males have a striking orange face crossed by white stripes, including a strong horizontal band below the eyes and shorter vertical marks on the head. The body is dark brown with pale and orange details, and the third legs are elongated and used in display. The combination of a male facial mask, jumping-spider movement and a South Australian wetland setting is more useful than colour alone. The original description is based on specimens from the Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry area; females and juveniles can be much harder to separate from other Maratus without close structural examination.
Clues that are not enough on their own
- A bright orange-and-white face without a South Australian wetland context
- Tiny size or a grain-of-rice comparison used as if it were diagnostic
- Any peacock-spider dance assumed to identify one Maratus species
- A brown female or juvenile matched to a colourful male photograph
- A marsh, swamp or garden location treated as proof of the named species
- No capture web treated as unique when many jumping spiders share that trait
- A social-media photograph used without a clear sex, locality and structural view
Colour, sex and life-stage variation
Sex and life stage change the appearance substantially. Schubert records males at about 4.25 mm and females at about 5.12 mm body length, so even an adult is only around a grain of rice. The orange-and-white facial mask is a male clue, while females are mostly brown and can resemble other peacock spiders. Juveniles, worn scales, moulted skins, flash and shade can erase or exaggerate the stripes. A small orange face, a tiny body or a peacock-spider shape on its own cannot establish M. nemo; preserve the broader Maratus comparison when the sex, locality or eye and body details are uncertain.
Behaviour, web and retreat
Nemo peacock spiders do not build a capture web. They run and jump across marsh vegetation and shallow wetland edges, using silk retreats or draglines rather than a prey-catching orb or cobweb. During courtship a male raises one third leg and slowly waves it, may raise both third legs, and bobs the abdomen while producing vibrations through the plant. That display is a useful Maratus behaviour clue, not a safe reason to disturb a spider. Observe from the side of the wetland and never shake vegetation or handle a displaying animal.
Australian distribution
The World Spider Catalog and Australian Faunal Directory place M. nemo in South Australia. Schubert’s peer-reviewed description gives the known localities as the vicinities of Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry, where the spider appears associated with ephemeral wetland complexes and marshy vegetation in shallow water. Reports from Mount Burr Swamp fit that wetland context, but a broad “South Australian peacock spider” label is not enough for a species call. Keep the site filter to South Australia, record the general locality and habitat, and avoid publishing precise sensitive wetland coordinates.
What to do if you find one
Photograph the whole plant or wetland edge first, then take a dorsal or face view, a side view and a frame showing scale without touching the spider. Note whether it was on marsh vegetation above shallow water, the general South Australian locality and whether a male display was actually observed. Do not sweep wetland plants or collect specimens for a casual identification. If a spider must be moved from indoors, use a clear container and card. It is not usually considered dangerous; follow healthdirect first-aid guidance after any bite and seek medical care for severe, spreading or allergic symptoms, or if a medically significant lookalike cannot be ruled out.
Compare with similar spiders
Use body shape, web or retreat, location and behaviour together before settling on a likely match.
Sources for this profile
These accessible authoritative sources support the identification and bite-safety context on this page.
- Schubert 2021 open-access species description
- Australian Faunal Directory: Maratus nemo
- Australian Museum: Jumping spiders
- Queensland Museum: New jumping-spider species
- Nature Glenelg Trust: Nemo peacock spider
- Peacock Spider: Maratus nemo species report
- Healthdirect: Spider bites
Profile review
Published by Spider Identifier Australia. Last factual review: 13 August 2026.
Quick identification
- Very small peacock spider with large forward-facing jumping-spider eyes
- Male has a bright orange face crossed by white stripes, giving the Nemo name clue
- South Australian Limestone Coast clue, especially Mount McIntyre, Nangwarry or nearby wetland country
- Found on marshy vegetation or shallow wetland edges rather than in a large capture web
What to check next
Check the location and habitat first: this is a South Australian wetland peacock spider. Look for tiny size, jumping-spider eyes, orange-and-white male face markings and marshy vegetation. Compare with common peacock spiders, banksia peacock spiders and garden jumping spiders if the pattern or location is unclear.
When to seek medical help
This spider is not usually considered dangerous. Avoid handling it and seek medical advice for severe pain, allergic symptoms, infection signs, spreading symptoms or uncertainty after any bite.
Where it is usually seen
Ephemeral wetlands, marshy vegetation, shallow water edges and swampy ground-layer plants around the Mount McIntyre and Nangwarry region of South Australia.