Educational Media Reviews Online

Maratus is a beautifully filmed and highly significant documentary of the finding of an unknown species of spider by an Australian trash collector who is an amateur photographer and amateur arachnologist. Stuart Harris’ interests in photography and spiders combine when a jumping spider, with an unusually vivid blue opisthosoma, he photographed while hiking in the woods near his home launches his life in a new direction. Not thinking much about the spider, except noting its beauty, he posted it on an online photography site. Dr. Jurgen Otto, an arachnologist in Europe, noticed the picture and identified it as one of the jumping spiders. Suspecting this may be an unusually colored version of these spiders he contacts Stuart Harris and they begin an unusual collaboration.

Dr. Otto suggests additional photos and the capture of a specimen of this spider to more accurately define it. This is where the trouble begins. Multiple trips and several years are required before the duo is finally able to find and capture a specimen of this highly elusive spider near where the original spider had been found. Mr. Harris notes that his colorblindness makes certain blues appear more vivid to him and when this spider is displaying for its courtship ritual the opisthosoma is held in a vertical position making the blue especially vivid to him. This accidental trait assists the pair in locating a second spider of this species which Dr. Otto takes back home for further study. Realizing that a new species has been discovered he begins the work of describing and documenting this spider while allowing Mr. Harris to assist as a citizen scientist.

The film emphasizes this collaborative effort and does a good job of making viewers aware of the assistance that interested non-scientists can provide when a relationship such as this is established. The final stage in the documentation process involves naming the newly discovered species. This is where Mr. Harris is surprised to find that Dr. Otto has chosen the name Maratus harrisi for this spider in honor of his amateur colleague.

This highly recommended film is well done with the major negative being the long periods involved searching for a second example of the original spider. Although this time is used to explain some of the process in documenting new organisms and the difficulties encountered while attempting to document this spider additional information could have more completely filled the time. The spectacular video segment where the spider is in full display makes this documentary memorable and the result is worth the wait. Science classes at all levels, photography groups, and the general public would all enjoy this alluring film.

Awards

• Best Film, Scinema International Science Film Festival
• Best Australian Short, Antenna Documentary Film Festival
• Audience Award, Stronger Than Fiction Film Festival
• Film Award, Canberra Critics Circle