Awww... Australian fauna.
February 11, 2014 5:06 AM   Subscribe

Peacock Spiders don't hurt humans (they're tiny and 'insignificant'). Here's one on a human fingernail in Western Australia where they live. Peacock Spiders (Flickr image search results) are quite something. (Previously). The still images don't capture the mating performances properly.

If your interest is piqued... check out this channel: Peacock Spiders
posted by panaceanot (31 comments total) 15 users marked this as a favorite
 
They are adorable. Look at that little booty shake! Aw.
posted by louche mustachio at 5:13 AM on February 11, 2014


As featured in this gif
posted by louche mustachio at 5:17 AM on February 11, 2014 [14 favorites]


>spiders
>Australia
>don't hurt humans

Haha, yeah right. I'm onto you.
posted by cthuljew at 5:27 AM on February 11, 2014 [12 favorites]


My kid is responsible for about 400,000 of the 431,793 times Peacock Spider 5 has been viewed. We do the spider dance with our arms in the air.
posted by pracowity at 5:29 AM on February 11, 2014 [9 favorites]


Peacock Spider 3 is really something special. They aren't the most colorful, but they make up for it in other ways.
posted by louche mustachio at 5:34 AM on February 11, 2014 [2 favorites]


I love Peacock Spiders. Their adorable little faces look kind of like a Cyriak video in progress, only much much much much much less creepy. Unless you are a smaller insect, of course.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:44 AM on February 11, 2014


Is this a double-ish? I can only find one previously but I am sure I saw a deleted post.

In any case: spiders? Just say no.
posted by Mezentian at 5:48 AM on February 11, 2014


I was asked to give a talk on spiders at my daughter's school, and the Peacock spider was the star turn. It's very handy in combating spider stereotypes.
posted by dhruva at 5:53 AM on February 11, 2014 [1 favorite]


Sorry, I am a spider-shamer.
posted by Mezentian at 5:54 AM on February 11, 2014


They live on human fingernails? That's weird. Where do I get one?
posted by pipeski at 6:01 AM on February 11, 2014 [3 favorites]


in Western Australia where they live.
posted by three blind mice at 6:23 AM on February 11, 2014 [1 favorite]


Terrified of spiders, but this and the jumpy spider shapes don't flip me out. yet I can't look at normal spider pictures.

I think it's the relationship of the body to the legs. If it's not that spidery looking I'm cool.

Either way, I like these guys.
posted by Lord_Pall at 6:23 AM on February 11, 2014


Also, they do a mean YMCA.
posted by Lord_Pall at 6:25 AM on February 11, 2014 [2 favorites]


The still images don't capture the mating performances properly.

Except for the ones who practice Tantric sex.
posted by yoink at 7:14 AM on February 11, 2014


>spiders
>Australia
>don't hurt humans

Haha, yeah right. I'm onto you.



Yes, panaceanot- did you type this post with 10 fingers...or 8 legs?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:50 AM on February 11, 2014 [3 favorites]


Even without David Attenborough, these are great!
posted by sneebler at 8:18 AM on February 11, 2014


This is as good of a place as any to post a question that occurred to me earlier this week. There was a tiny little spider in my bathroom -- that size, if not smaller (but no where near as colorful, alas). The spider was smaller than any other bug I would come across in the house, whether they be fruit flies or fungus gnats or silverfish or the occasional ant. So what do tiny spiders find to eat in my bathroom??
posted by mudpuppie at 9:07 AM on February 11, 2014


pipeski - I read it as they all live on a particular finger nail in Western Australia. The OP did say they are very small.
posted by EnterTheStory at 9:13 AM on February 11, 2014


Still too many eyes for me O_o
posted by waving at 9:22 AM on February 11, 2014


You know how some people have issues with color perception tests, where some color combinations causes the colors to glow? That's what the red on the blue is doing to my eyes. Very cool spiders.
posted by DetriusXii at 9:24 AM on February 11, 2014


I think you mean "ARGH, Australian fauna!".

Cute spiders, though.
posted by Drexen at 11:39 AM on February 11, 2014 [1 favorite]


Still too many eyes for me O_o

I think you meant o_O_O_o.
posted by scalefree at 11:52 AM on February 11, 2014 [11 favorites]


They live on human fingernails? That's weird.

No, what's weird is that human fools don't realize this is an insidious spider plot. First we allow them on our fingernails, and then...


they take over the world!
posted by BlueHorse at 11:57 AM on February 11, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'm sorry but what now? Quokkas are the most photogenic animal in Australia thank you very much.
posted by Talez at 4:01 PM on February 11, 2014


but we've already met our quokka photo quota
posted by pyramid termite at 4:34 PM on February 11, 2014 [2 favorites]


Is it just me or did anyone else think

TACHIKOMA!

?
posted by djrock3k at 6:21 PM on February 11, 2014 [3 favorites]


No, what's weird is that human fools don't realize this is an insidious spider plot. First we allow them on our fingernails, and then...
they take over the world!


Colin WiIson warns us about this, sheeple!
posted by Mezentian at 6:33 PM on February 11, 2014


I recently (accidentally) broke a spider hunting wasp's mud nest and a heap of these fell out. I figured they were dead. There was something rising to insects on the surface of the pool I was camped by on the Donnelly River. So I grabbed a small handful and started flicking them in and watched what turned out to be trout eating them. Then they started moving in my hand. They were only paralysed. I felt so guilty..
posted by Ahab at 7:35 PM on February 11, 2014 [3 favorites]


This is as good of a place as any to post a question that occurred to me earlier this week. There was a tiny little spider in my bathroom -- that size, if not smaller (but no where near as colorful, alas).

Does he dance when you come near him?
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:37 PM on February 11, 2014


Upon reading Ahab's comment, I am officially a fruit loop Aussie who weirdly loves our creatures (except for redbacks). I am sad for those poor little Charlottes who went on the ropeless bungee jump to their death. But I do love fresh trout for breakfast while camping, so that makes me feel that the spideys didn't die in vain.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 4:10 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]


I am sad for those poor little Charlottes who went on the ropeless bungee jump to their death.

I was wondering, "Charlottes? Is this some Australian slang like Sheila that I haven't heard?" And then a rusty cog in my brain clunked into place.
posted by pracowity at 6:33 AM on February 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


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