The Peacock spider or Gliding spider (Maratus volans) is a species of jumping spider.
Octavius Pickard-Cambridge noted in his original description that “it is difficult to describe adequately the great beauty of the colouring of this spider”.
The red, blue and black colored males have flap-like extensions of the abdomen with white hairs that can be folded down. They are used for display during mating: the male raises his abdomen, then expands and raises the flaps so that the abdomen forms a white-fringed, circular field of color. The species, and indeed the whole genus Maratus have been compared to peacocks in this respect. The third pair of legs is also raised for display, showing a brush of black hairs and white tips. While approaching the female, the male will vibrate his abdomen while waving raised legs and tail, and dance from side to side.[1]
Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have colour patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. [ read more ]
Am I the only who thinks they look like they’re all going “I just dont give a fuck anymore”? Or attempting to create a spirit bomb?
Tyrol, Where Mountains Meet Starry Sky
The Alpine state of Tyrol in western Austria is a meeting point of stunning mountains and starry sky.
This view of the Milky Way looks toward the south at the border with Italy. The towns in northern Italy have illuminated the horizon. Down in the valley the Brenner Autobahn is visible, a short famous highway that connects Innsbruck to Italy through the Alps.
Stratospheric Winter Constellations
by Youngwoo Cho
This is the stratospheric winter constellations, that is, viewed from the Air-bus 11-km above sea level. The Air-bus which took off Incheon was flying over the Pacific before landing at San Francisco in one and half hours. It was taken while new day’s dawning. It was expected that the Orionids would light up the sky, but I could hardly see any.
Orion, Canis’, Gemini, Taurus and another winter constellations alongside with the Pleiades can be seen in the sky. Note that some bright stars of the constellations Canis Major and Orion are seen reflected on the wing of the airplane. Sirius as well as the navigation light at the tip of the wing is very bright and is making.
