Stenaelurillus megamalai

Male Stenaelurillus megamalai performs an elaborate visual courtship display notable for rapid body movements and strong colour contrasts. The display typically begins with an up-and-down motion while the male holds its pedipalps together in front of the chelicerae and raises legs I to show bright orange patches on the femora. Males then perform one of two distinctive actions: either a rapid, peacock-like rearing and lateral expansion of a fringed opisthosoma, or a sudden elevation of the entire body with legs I and II extended forward and the body supported only on legs III and IV. During these displays the male exposes bright white stripes on the prolateral side of the pedipalps, tufts of light-blue setae between the pedipalps, and contrasting white dorsal spots on a dark opisthosoma, all of which enhance the visual signal to the female.