A new species of peacock spider has been discovered in Albany.

The unnamed spider was found last month by Jurgen Otto, a Sydney biologist who travels Australia in search of new species.

He spent three weeks in the Great Southern before finding the new species.

“When I first saw it, I wasn’t sure if I had discovered anything new,” he said. “When I realised I had found another new species, my mood changed instantly. Because I am partially colour blind, this new species didn’t at first seem terribly attractive to me, but since I posted some photographs on Facebook and Flickr and saw the reaction to it, I realised there is more to it than my eyes can see.”

It is not the first time Mr Otto has found a new peacock spider species in the Great Southern. He and colleague David Knowles found two species near Denmark last year. “We have discovered so many interesting species recently in that part of WA,” Mr Otto said.

Camera Icon Peacock spider found near Denmark from last year Credit: Jurgen Otto

“To me it seemed to be the most promising area to look for anything new, so time spent in that area never goes to waste.”

He saw his first peacock spider in 2005.

“Now we have 65 named species, most of these named just in the last few years,” Mr Otto said.