Five new peacock spiders from eastern Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch 1878 and Saratus, new genus) Author Otto, Jürgen C. Author Hill, David E. text Peckhamia 2017 2017-03-06 147 1 1 86 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.7172680 1944-8120 7172680 5C7A03DE-97CB-4527-97D0-7AB071E53B3A Saratus , new genus Type species. Saratus hesperus , new species Etymology. Saratus (noun, m.) is a modification of the genus name Maratus , selected to reflect similarities between the two genera. Description . This is a monotypic genus. Saratus is small ( 3-4 mm ) and very similar to Maratus species with respect to the morphology, colouration and display behaviour of both males and females. Saratus , like Maratus , have shorter legs I and II and longer legs III and IV , with legs III the longest. However, male and female genitalia of Saratus are distinctly different from those of Maratus or related genera such as Jotus ( Otto & Hill 2016a ) . The embolus of the pedipalp of each Maratus species is comprised of a relatively large and almost complete outer ring and usually a shorter ring segment that appears beneath this near the apex (e.g. M. neptunus , Figure 62 ). The visible embolus of Saratus is quite small in comparison, comprised of only a short, curved spike on top of a small sclerotized process ( Figure 84 ). Whereas the epigynum of Maratus species has a large and distinct fossa (window or fenestra) anterior to each large posterior spermatheca ( M. neptunus , Figure 68), the fossa of the Saratus epigynum, if visible, is just below or only slightly anterior to the large posterior spermatheca ( Figure 88 ). Because S. hesperus is so similar to Maratus in other respects, these differences in genitalia are surprising, particularly since little interspecific variation of the genitalia of Maratus is the norm. Comparison of DNA sequences may at some time suggest that Saratus should be treated as an aberrant Maratus , or at least a close relative of that genus. Emergent (second instar) Saratus have a distinctive pattern of eight black spots on the dorsal opisthosoma that disappear as they mature ( Figure 90 ), a feature that we have not seen in any Maratus .