Giant peacock spiders are a subspecies of giant spiders that live in the wasteland.
Giant peacock spiders are spread throughout North America and South America. On these continents, they are entirely absent from Alaska, the lower third of South America, and much of the upper half of Canada, but some straggler populations unable to escape the changing seasons have been found in Newfoundland.
Background[]
Giant peacock spiders are a subspecies of giant spiders. Descending from the peacock spider, giant peacock spiders were created by accident in the aftermath of the Great War. In a vein similar to that of radscorpions and giant mantids, over the generations, these spiders evolved and adapted to their new environment.
Biology[]
Giant peacock spiders are a large, carnivorous, octupedal arachnid species that resemble their smaller namesakes, and are on average the same size as a Western giant spider. Giant peacock spiders reach maturity at two years of age and can live up to twenty years. Like their smaller ancestors, these invertebrates are known for the colorful and usually iridescent patterns on the upper surface of the abdomen, which are often enhanced with lateral flaps or bristles. Only the males have these bright patterns, and they are displayed during courtship. Females lack these bright colors, having cryptic coloration instead. This camouflage in the females is so good that both humans and other wasteland animals mistake them for rocks or chunks of debris.
Behavior and Diet[]
Giant peacock spiders are predators that hunt during the day, feeding primarily on bighorners, brahmin, wolves, coyotes, radroaches, night stalkers, feral ghouls, and other animals they think they can catch. Giant peacock spiders that live on the east coast are especially fond of snallygasters as prey.
Reproduction[]
These creatures enter their breeding season during April, and breeding seasons last until the end of May. Males will fiercely compete with one another over the right to mate, driving away smaller males before attempting to mate. Their courtship dances are practically unchanged from their smaller ancestors. During courtship dances, a male will raise both his abdomen and his third pair of legs, which are used in a clapping motion to further attract a female's attention. While approaching a female, a male will vibrate his abdomen while waving his raised legs around in small circles, pacing from side to side while never turning away from the female.
For females who do choose to mate with the male, copulation time is also positively correlated to visual displays and vibratory signaling. However, females are more attracted to the visual efforts of the dance rather than vibrations If the female is interested, she will respond to the approaching male by signaling with her third pair of legs. If the male continues his dance when the female is not interested, she will attempt to attack, kill, and eat him. The male may escape this assault by jumping away. If the female has already mated, she will be more aggressive to outside males and less receptive to their displays.
Relationship with Humans[]
While attacks on humans and ghouls are rare, they still happen, with few people attacked by giant peacock spiders living to tell the tale. Some bold humans have managed to tame these creatures, where they serve as guards or even shock troops. Certain gangs favor the latter role for giant peacock spiders.