Yes, This Dancing Spider Really is Called a 'Sparklemuffin'

Jürgen Otto, an entomologist who specializes in photographing these arachnids and who co-authored the study, even recently told Live Science that he believes Skeletorous' unique markings help sell the theory that there are countless other peacock spiders out there just waiting to be found. He and Girard believe that perhaps Sparklemuffin-like spiders already known are but a fraction of a far larger and diverse-looking group.

Otto also described the incredible displays that had grabbed his attention both as a scientist and as a photographer in the first place.

He explained that when a male Skeletorous in particular drew close to a female, "he exploded into a firework of activity. The spinnerets were extended and flicked around at an amazing speed, one of the legs was flexed like he wanted to show off his muscles, and he moved constantly from one side of the grass blade to the other."

This is a very beautiful and unusual side to the traditionally dark and dangerous world that is the spider sex life, much of which you can read about here.

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