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Jumping Spiders

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Family Salticidae

Description

Jumping spiders are small spiders characterised by their large eyes and an ability to jump large distances.  They are generally diurnal (active during daylight hours) and use their excellent vision to hunt prey.

The male Peacock spiders (Genus Maratus) are particularly well known for their bright colouration and elaborate courtship dances.  As in most spiders, the males are smaller than the females and need to tread lightly to avoid ending up as a meal!

Adaptations

  • Large eyes enable them to judge distances and hunt highly motile prey e.g. flying insects
  • Strong back legs enable them to jump large distances to escape predators and catch prey

Feeding relationships

  • What I eat: insects, small spiders
  • What eats me: preying mantis, larger spiders, butcher bird, magpie

Interesting facts

There are more than 500 different genera of jumping spiders and around 5,000 species.  Many arachnologists (scientists who study spiders) believe that there are still many species that have not formally been described.

Acknowledgements: Australian Museum, Spiders Worlds


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Last reviewed 10 June 2020
Last updated 10 June 2020