Several species in this genus were earlier classified in the genus "Saitis", containing the Mediterranean "Saitis barbipes", which is superficially similar to "Maratus" (colorful males with an enlarged third pair of legs). "Saitis" in Australia have enlarged and fringed third legs which they use for display but do not raise their abdomens like "Maratus". All species of "Maratus" are found in Australia, with the exception of "Maratus furvus" from China. "M. furvus" was first described in 1992 in the genus "Lycidas", becoming part of "Maratus" when "Lycidas" was synonymized in 2012. Otto and Hill consider this species cannot be linked to any genus with certainty.