THE spider that shot to fame via a YouTube video is found in Balranald, a top entomologist has confirmed.
The peacock spider burst onto scientists’ radars in 2005 and since then more than 30 species of peacock spider have been documented, with 20 more species waiting for description.
Australia is the only country in the world where the peacock spider is found but a video of the tiny and colourful arachnid’s mating ritual recently garnered worldwide attention.
University of Western Sydney entomologist Michael Duncan said peacock spiders could one day be held in the same regard as native Australian animals like the emu and the kangaroo.
“I could see peacock spiders on a postage stamp and a $1 dollar coin,” he said.
Through his citizen science group Project Maratus, Mr Duncan records peacock spider sightings and says they are being found at a tremendous rate across the country.
The spider spotted by Balranald resident German Ugarte is the species Maratus Literatus, a known species in the wider Balranald region.
Mr Duncan hoped the video would generate more interest in the minuscule spider, which ranges from 1mm to 4mm in length, and also educate the public about invertebrates in general.
