Maratus bubo
Owl Peacock Spider Identification Australia
Tiny Western Australian peacock spider whose male fan resembles a rough horned-owl sketch when it is raised during courtship.
Usually low riskThe Owl peacock spider, Maratus bubo Otto & Hill, 2016, is a tiny jumping spider currently accepted from Western Australia. Its name refers to the unusual pattern on the adult male's raised abdominal fan, not to an owl-like body or nocturnal habits. A sharp macro photograph is normally essential: the spider is only a few millimetres long, and a female or juvenile may lack the showy fan that makes the species recognisable.
Quick identification
- Tiny compact jumping spider with the large forward-facing principal eyes typical of Salticidae
- Adult male can raise a patterned fan that resembles a primitive horned-owl sketch
- The display fan is bracketed by the extended third legs
- Current World Spider Catalog distribution is Western Australia; a plain female or juvenile is not enough for a species call
What to check next
Use the Western Australian locality, compact salticid body and a clear adult-male fan view together. Do not turn a generic colourful Maratus, a cropped owl-like pattern or a plain female into a confident species identification.
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 or concern.
Where it is usually seen
Low vegetation, leaf litter, scrub and other ground-layer plants in Western Australia. Treat the locality as a supporting clue only; current catalogue distribution is not a substitute for adult-male structural evidence.