About

 In 2005 I stumbled across Maratus volans in Sydney and after learning that it was suspected to spread out a pair of colourful flaps I started to search for more individuals and started to play around with them. At the time the female was unknown, and nobody had observed the male’s courtship behaviour, let alone photographed or filmed it. In 2008 I photographed their display for the first time, and this sparked a passion that sustains me to this day, resulting in numerous photographs,  film clips, newly discovered species and publications in which they were named and documented.

I hope this site will become a hub for information about peacock spiders, mostly featuring my own content but also that of others who contribute to our knowledge. A place where you can see what the various species look like, how they behave, where they live and what else might be interesting about them. Ideas about how to improve this website are always welcome. You can contact me (Jurgen Otto)  on my email jurgenotto8@gmail.com

All photographs are copyright Jurgen Otto except where stated otherwise. Non-commercial use is permitted if you credit me and provide a link to this site. For anything ommercial or if you are not sure get in touch. If you want to use any videos also contact me.

For videos visit my YouTube channel  and Vimeo site, links to these are also in tabs in the main menu. My YouTube channel features videos that are edited to tell a particular story. My Vimeo site is intended to present my raw unedited footage for each species. For still images got to my flickr, and for news, updates and regular posts visit my Facebook page

The following is a selection (not an exhaustive list) of articles about me and my work. I also encourage you to read the stories I publish on this website under the “My memories” tab if you are interested in my personal experience throughout those years. There are additional ones that I will add over time, there is quite a bit more to tell here.

Cosmos Magazine: The colourful world of Jurgen Otto, the peacock spider-man

Good Weekend Magazine: Jurgen Otto and his dancing spiders

Reader’s Digest Australia: Peacock Spiderman

Quartz Magazine: A scientists’s love story with the eccentric and largely unknown peacock spider

Australian Geographic: Dance of the tiny peacock spider

News For Kids: The Peacock Spider man

National Geographic: Adorable New Peacock Spiders Will Rock Your World

Museums Victoria: Why the 2010s were the decade of the peacock spider