MEET SPARKLEMUFFIN AND Skeletorus.
They are two species of peacock spiders recently discovered in eastern Australia, and they seem a lot more cuddly than the creepy-crawlies we’re used to.
They were both discovered by Maddie Girard from the University of California, with Skeletorus being named after its skeleton-like markings, and Sparklemuffin… well, there’s no real explanation for that, Girard said it was a pet name.
Both have an intricate mating dances that arachnid photographer Jurgen Otto has captured on film.
Otto explained to the National Geographic that peacock spiders have remained virtually unstudied since their discovery in the 1800s until 1950s.
It’s likely that amateur naturalists could easily spot new species.
He himself has found around twenty species, and recently discovered maratus elephans while looking through specimens donated to a museum.
Otto has more stunning videos and images on his Facebook and Flickr pages.
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