The peacock spider (Maratus volans) belongs to the jumping spider family and is found in Australia
This is one of the spider species whose brightly colored males “dance” in front of the females. These are small spiders, with a body length of just 5 mm. Males have a brightly colored abdomen (with orange, blue, and red markings) and unusual courtship behavior; females are plain, grayish-brown.
To attract females, males vibrate their abdomen, unfold the lateral plates on their abdomen, raise their legs and abdomen upward, and move (“dance”) from left to right. If the female shows no interest, she may catch and eat her suitor.
The males’ raised and vibrating third pair of legs is distinguished by its greater length and coloration, as well as the presence of a tuft of white hairs at the tip. At rest and in the absence of a female, males fold their bright fan (wrapping it around their abdomen).