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These spiders can be found almost everywhere - though they are more prevalent in tropical areas. They live on leaves, bark, rocks, fences and house walls - anywhere insects can be found.
Most Jumping Spider species are quite small - less than 10 mm - but they range from 3 mm to 20 mm. This particular spider is about 15 mm in length.
Body shape within the family varies quite a lot, but these spiders are usually robust with short, stout legs. The first pair of legs typically curves forwards and has sharp spines.
Body colour can be grey, brown and black, but many tropical species are extremely colourful with distinctive patterns. The males are usually more colourful than females and many are fringed with tufts of hair. During a courtship "dance", the male will position his body so that the female can clearly see his bright display.
These spiders have excellent colour vision and can even see UV light. They have four pairs of eyes arranged in two rows - which gives them a 360 degree field of view. The first pair of eyes are very large and are directed forwards. Prey can be seen up to 40 cm away.
Jumping Spiders are active hunters, which means that they don't spin a web to catch their prey. As its common name suggests, this spider instead uses its excellent eyesight to track down a potential meal and then jumps upon it - much like a cat pounces on a mouse. It can jump up to a distance of several centimeters - though some Jumping Spiders have been known to leap a distance of up to 80 times their own body length.
Most species of Jumping Spider are carnivorous, but some also eat nectar and pollen. They also eat other spiders, including their own species. A male Jumping Spider can quickly become a meal for a female, if he isn't successful with his courtship dance.
Even though it doesn't make a web, a Jumping Spider can spin silk and it uses its silk to make a lifeline as it jumps in case it falls. It also uses its silk to weave a small tent-like dwelling in leaves or under bark, in which it retreats in cold or wet weather, or when it moults. In Spring and Summer, females also spin sacs to protect their eggs. The silk colour is white.
Jumping Spider bites aren't dangerous to humans.
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