peacock

Another Spooktober special! OK, we know what you're thinking, "Spiders? Heck no." And we get that, and we're also like that. However, when it comes to peacock spiders, there's something enchanting about them. Yes, if we were ever in the presence of one, we'd probably run. 

These are just photos and vids, they can't hurt us. Remember that. 

The peacock spider is probably the most beautiful spider out there, with its vivid colors, and disproportional huge eyes, you can't help but think, "OK, these guys can be cool." Much like peacocks, male peacock spiders are the most colorful of the sexes and have displayed their colors bolding when trying to attract a mate. 

As much as they make us squeamish, bugs can be quite cool looking!  

Watching a male peacock flashing his colorful tail feathers is definitely a spectacular sight.  

But what about the rare white peacocks? Can they make a dazzling appearance even without all those bold colors?

As you can see from the photos below, the answer is yes!

Contrary to the belief, those beautiful white peafowls are not albino. They are suffering from a genetic mutation called leucism, which prevents the pigments from being deposited into their feathers, leaving them with a total white appearance. 

With more than 150 feathers that reach their full length at the age of two, these rare peacocks are just as feisty and beautiful as their colorful counterparts. While some of them can be found in the wild, it's more common for white peacocks to be the result of selective breeding in captivity, where they can live for up to 50 years.

The peacock is the stylish of birds. After all, they do have over 200 colorful elongated feathers that attract not just their potential partners, but many people's attention and cameras, too. Few people get a chance to see these birds off a ground, but they can, indeed, fly. Though usually peacocks do that in case of danger, rather than pleasure. When predators appear, birds start running and flutter into the air. Surprisingly, the long feathers don't affect their take-offs. The distance might be limited, but they can speed up to 16 km/h (10 mph)!