Just because Australia needed more species of spider

In what will surely come as a blow to Australia's tourism industry, three new species of spiders have been discovered lurking on our shores.

The trio of peacock spider species inhabit south-west Australia, according to the spider taxonomist who discovered them, Joseph Schubert.

He was working with the suitably ominous sounding Project Maratus when he discovered the spiders late last year.

According to a tweet sent out by Mr Schubert this week, the new species have been officially named Maratus aquilus, Maratus felinus and Maratus combustus.

That’s one named after eagles, one named after cats, and one named after fiery explosions, in case you were wondering.

In all seriousness, 9Pickle congratulates Mr Schubert, particularly as he stipulates the spiders are "completely harmless" and "roughly the length of a grain of rice".

Wait - maybe that just makes them better at creeping up behind you.