Eagle-faced Maratus Maratus aquilus Schubert, 2019

(after Schubert 2019): This species belongs to the Maratus vespa group, with respect to the presence of many long bristle-like setae on legs III of the male, and the courtship display of the male which rapidly turns from side to side with a raised opisthosoma and extended large, lobate lateral opisthosomal flaps, displaying to females at close proximity (within millimetres). Maratus aquilus can be distinguished from other males of the group by its unique dorsal opisthosomal pattern. Females of M. aquilus are similar to other females in the M. vespa clade and identification is not possible without association with a male. The structures of the external male and female genitalia of M. aquilus are of no use in distinguishing them from other south-western Australian endemic Maratus species.

• native

• Western Australia