Jumping spiders are easily distinguished from other spiders by
their four big eyes on the face and four smaller eyes on top of the
head. Around the world there are probably more than 5000 species of
jumping spiders. Jumping spiders are charming lil
buggers that look up and watch you. Although a jumping
spider can jump more than fifty times its body length, none of its
legs has enlarged muscles. The power for jumping comes from a quick
contraction of muscles in the front part of the body increasing the
blood pressure, which causes the legs to extend rapidly much as
the hydraulics in a low-rider car.
Their vision also allows communications by visual means, such as the
elaborate courtship dances that males perform. Salticids are perhaps
as old and diverse as mammals, though not many humans know their
world. Many salticids are colorful, they take on a variety of body
forms, and some have disguises, looking like ants and other
organisms. The bright colors and elaborate forms of some jumping
spider species are involved in courtship.
Jumping spiders are small to medium in size, stout-bodied
and short-legged, with a distinctive eye pattern. The body
is rather hairy (pubescent) and frequently brightly colored
or iridescent. Some species are antlike in appearance. The
jumping spiders forage for their prey in the daytime. They
approach prey slowly and, when a short distance away, make a
sudden leap onto the unfortunate animal. They are good
jumpers and can leap many times their own body length.
Phidippus audax is one of the
most common jumping spiders in North America. It is commonly called
the "bold" or "daring" jumping spider. Most casual photographers
capture only this species. |
