Peacock Spiders Worksheet — Science & Art Activities for Grades 3–6 (Ages 8–12)

Instructions

Read the text about the fascinating peacock spider, then complete the activities that follow to test your knowledge.

The Amazing Peacock Spider

Deep in the forests and grasslands of Australia lives one of the world's most spectacular arachnids: the peacock spider. These tiny creatures, belonging to the genus Maratus, are a type of jumping spider. While the females are typically brown and camouflaged, the males are famous for their vibrant, iridescent colors and incredible courtship displays.

A male peacock spider is only about 4-5 millimeters long—smaller than a grain of rice! Despite his small size, he puts on a big show to attract a mate. He has a special flap on his abdomen, often called a "fan," which is covered in brilliant, metallic colors that form intricate patterns. To impress a female, the male will lift this colorful fan, raise his third pair of legs, and perform a complex dance that involves side-stepping, vibrating his body, and waving his legs like a traffic controller.

This dance is a risky business. The female watches his performance very carefully. If she is impressed, she will allow him to mate. If she is not impressed, or if he makes a wrong move, she may ignore him or even try to eat him! Unlike many other spiders, peacock spiders do not build webs to catch their food. They are active hunters with excellent eyesight, which they use to stalk and pounce on small insects.

Part 1: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. Where are peacock spiders primarily found?
   • a) South America
   • b) Australia
   • c) Africa
   • d) Asia


2. What is the main purpose of the male peacock spider's colorful dance?
   • a) To scare away predators
   • b) To find food
   • c) To attract a female mate
   • d) To communicate with other males


3. Which of these is NOT part of the male's courtship display?
   • a) Raising his colorful abdomen flap
   • b) Building a decorative web
   • c) Vibrating his body
   • d) Waving his third pair of legs

Part 2: Fill in the Blanks

Use the words from the word bank to complete the sentences below.

1. Peacock spiders are a type of ________________ spider that hunts its prey.
2. The male's colorful abdomen flap is sometimes called a ________________.
3. The female spider's brown coloring helps her ________________ into her surroundings.
4. The entire purpose of the male's dance is to find a ________________.
5. These spiders are very ________________, often smaller than a grain of rice.
6. Their excellent ________________ helps them to be effective hunters.

Part 3: True or False

Read each statement carefully. Write 'T' for True or 'F' for False on the line.

_____ 1. Both male and female peacock spiders have bright, vibrant colors.

_____ 2. Peacock spiders are among the largest spiders in the world.

_____ 3. The scientific genus for peacock spiders is Maratus.

_____ 4. If a female is not impressed by a male's dance, she might try to eat him.

_____ 5. Peacock spiders use large webs to catch insects.

Answer Key

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. b) Australia
2. c) To attract a female mate
3. b) Building a decorative web

Part 2: Fill in the Blanks

1. jumping
2. fan
3. camouflage
4. mate
5. tiny
6. eyesight

Part 3: True or False

1. F - Only the males are brightly colored; females are typically brown.
2. F - They are very tiny, only a few millimeters long.
3. T
4. T
5. F - They are active hunters and do not build webs to catch prey.