Jumping-spider
Guides
Leptofreya
Leptofreya is a genus of jumping spiders (family Salticidae) established in 2015 by G. B. Edwards. It comprises four species distributed across the Americas from Mexico to Brazil, with one species (L. ambigua) introduced to the United States. The genus was erected to accommodate species previously placed in other genera.
Leptofreya ambigua
Leptofreya ambigua is a species of jumping spider (family Salticidae) first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1846. Native to the Amazon basin of South America, it has been introduced to the United States, with established populations in Florida and Texas. The species is characterized by the typical salticid body plan with enlarged anterior median eyes and jumping locomotion.
Lyssomanes viridis
magnolia green jumper, magnolia green jumping spider
Lyssomanes viridis, the magnolia green jumper, is a small jumping spider native to the southeastern United States. It is the type species of the genus Lyssomanes, considered one of the earliest-evolved genera of jumping spiders. The species exhibits distinctive pale green coloration, elongated legs relative to body size, and specialized visual cognition behaviors. Males engage in visual agonistic displays using brightly colored chelicerae and forelegs, while both sexes utilize visual, vibratory, and pheromonal signals for communication.
Maevia albozonata
Maevia albozonata is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, described by van Hasselt in 1882. The genus Maevia is notable for containing species with pronounced male dimorphism, though specific details for M. albozonata remain poorly documented. It belongs to a group of spiders characterized by excellent vision and active hunting behavior.
Maevia expansa
Maevia expansa is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, described by Barnes in 1955. It belongs to a genus notable for pronounced male dimorphism, though specific details for M. expansa remain poorly documented. The species occurs in the United States, with records from North America. Information regarding its biology, behavior, and distinguishing characteristics is sparse compared to the well-studied congener Maevia inclemens.
Maevia inclemens
Dimorphic Jumping Spider
Maevia inclemens is a small jumping spider native to eastern North America, notable for its extreme male dimorphism. Adult males occur in two genetically determined morphs of equal frequency: a 'tufted' morph with an all-black body, white legs, and three cephalothoracic tufts, and a 'gray' morph with black-and-white striping and orange pedipalps. Each morph performs a distinct courtship display, and both achieve equal mating success. The species frequents vegetation, fences, and building exteriors.
Maevia intermedia
Maevia intermedia is a jumping spider (family Salticidae) native to North America, described by Robert D. Barnes in 1955 to distinguish it from similar congeneric species. It is morphologically intermediate between Maevia inclemens and Maevia expansa, with males resembling the light morph of M. inclemens. The species is medium-sized, with females slightly larger than males, and possesses the characteristic Salticid visual system with forward-facing principal eyes.
Marchena
Marchena is a monotypic genus of jumping spiders endemic to the western United States. Its sole described species, M. minuta, inhabits conifer bark habitats along the Pacific coast. The genus is the only North American representative of the subfamily Heliophaninae. Marchena forms a monophyletic group with the genera Afraflacilla, Pseudicius, and Festucula.
Marchena minuta
Marchena minuta is a small jumping spider and the sole described species in its genus. It is endemic to western North America, where it inhabits the bark of coniferous trees. The species represents the only North American member of the subfamily Heliophaninae. Its distribution is concentrated along the Pacific coast, with records from California, Washington, and Nevada.
Marpissa
Marpissa is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) first described by C. L. Koch in 1846. As of July 2024, the genus contains 41 species distributed across North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Polynesian Islands, and the Greater Antilles. Species exhibit notable morphological diversity, including the extremely slender M. pikei with elongated first pair of legs used for prey capture. Visual systems show specialized neural pathways with task-differentiated eyes: principal eyes for object discrimination and secondary eyes for movement detection, though posterior median eyes in M. muscosa appear modified and may not serve movement detection. Complex courtship behaviors have been documented, with M. marina exhibiting multiple courtship types and mating tactics including unique abdominal rotary waving displays.
Marpissa bina
Marpissa bina is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1846. It belongs to the genus Marpissa, which is characterized by elongated body forms and distinctive leg proportions. The species is known to occur in the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available literature. As a member of the Salticidae, it possesses the family's characteristic large anterior median eyes and jumping predatory behavior.
Marpissa formosa
Marpissa formosa is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is known from the eastern United States. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits the characteristic jumping ability and visual acuity typical of salticid spiders.
Marpissa grata
Toothed slender jumping spider
Marpissa grata is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is found in the United States and Canada, with records from Ontario, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota. The species was originally described as Hyctia grata by Gertsch in 1936 before being transferred to the genus Marpissa.
Marpissa lineata
Four-lined Slender Jumping Spider
Marpissa lineata is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the Four-lined Slender Jumping Spider. It is distinguished by distinctive banded markings on the abdomen and legs that give the species its name. Females are larger than males, measuring 3.50–5.20 mm versus 3.00–4.00 mm. The species is widely distributed across the eastern half of North America, where it inhabits leaf litter in forest, shrub, and prairie grass communities.
Marpissa pikei
Pike Slender Jumper, Long-bodied Jumping Spider
Marpissa pikei is a distinctive jumping spider of the family Salticidae, characterized by an extremely elongated, slender body form adapted for crypsis in grassy habitats. It is native to North America, ranging from the eastern United States through the Southwest and into Mexico and Cuba. The species exhibits striking sexual dimorphism in coloration, with males displaying bold black and orange patterning while females are more cryptically colored. Its common name reflects both its discoverer and its notably attenuated body shape.
Marpissa robusta
Marpissa robusta is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It was first described by Nathan Banks in 1906, originally under the genus Hyctia. The species is found in the western United States. Like other members of the genus Marpissa, it possesses the characteristic large anterior median eyes and jumping ability typical of salticid spiders.
Marpissa sulcosa
Pike Slender Jumper
Marpissa sulcosa, commonly known as the Pike Slender Jumper, is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is notable for its extremely elongated body and disproportionately long first pair of legs, which are used primarily for prey capture rather than locomotion. The species inhabits grassland environments and employs camouflage and ambush tactics to hunt. It ranges across much of North America, with records from the eastern United States through the Great Plains and into the Southwest.
Menemerus semilimbatus
Half-edged Wall Jumping Spider
Menemerus semilimbatus is a medium-sized jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the Half-edged Wall Jumping Spider. It is characterized by its dorso-ventrally flattened body, grayish-white coloration with distinctive V-shaped markings on the abdomen, and preference for vertical surfaces. The species is native to the Mediterranean region but has been introduced to parts of the Americas including Argentina, Chile, and the United States.
Messua
Messua is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) established by G. W. Peckham and E. G. Peckham in 1896. Species in this genus have been documented as hosts for parasitoid wasps, specifically the polysphinctine ichneumonid Inbioia pivai. The genus is moderately well-represented in citizen science observations, with over 3,000 records on iNaturalist.
Messua limbata
Messua limbata is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is known from the southern United States and Mexico. As a member of the jumping spider family, it possesses the characteristic large anterior median eyes and salticid hunting behavior. The species was described by Banks in 1898.
Metacyrba
Metacyrba is a genus of jumping spiders (family Salticidae) established by Frederick Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1901. The genus name derives from Greek μετά ('after, beside') combined with the related salticid genus Cyrba. It contains seven species and one subspecies distributed across the Americas, from the United States through Mexico and the Caribbean to northern South America.
Metacyrba floridana
Metacyrba floridana is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. The species was described by Gertsch in 1934. It is native to the southeastern and south-central United States. As a member of the Salticidae, it possesses the characteristic anterior median eyes that provide acute vision used for hunting and navigation.
Metacyrba punctata
Metacyrba punctata is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. The species is distributed across a broad range from the southern United States through Middle America to Ecuador. As a member of Salticidae, it possesses the characteristic large anterior median eyes that provide acute vision for hunting. The genus Metacyrba comprises small to medium-sized jumping spiders, though specific morphological details for M. punctata remain limited in published sources.
Metacyrba taeniola similis
Metacyrba taeniola similis is a subspecies of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, distributed across the southern United States and Mexico. As a member of the Metacyrba genus, it belongs to a group of cursorial salticids adapted to open habitats. The subspecies was described by Nathan Banks in 1904.
Metacyrba taeniola taeniola
Metacyrba taeniola taeniola is a subspecies of jumping spider (Salticidae) found in the southern United States and Mexico. As a member of the genus Metacyrba, it exhibits the characteristic jumping ability and acute vision typical of salticids. The subspecies designation indicates geographic variation within the broader species M. taeniola. It is moderately documented with 171 iNaturalist observations, suggesting it is encountered with some regularity by naturalists.
Metaphidippus chera
Metaphidippus chera is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It was first described by Chamberlin in 1924. The species is known to occur in the United States and Mexico. Like other jumping spiders, it possesses excellent vision and hunting behavior characteristic of the family.
Metaphidippus iviei
Metaphidippus iviei is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Roewer in 1951. The genus Metaphidippus is part of the subtribe Dendryphantina, a group that includes many arboreal jumping spiders. Very little specific information is documented about this particular species. Some species formerly placed in Metaphidippus have been reassigned to other genera, including Ghelna and Sassacus, reflecting ongoing taxonomic revisions in this complex group.
Metaphidippus manni
Metaphidippus manni is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, originally described by G. W. Peckham and E. G. Peckham in 1901. The species is found in North America, primarily in the United States. As a member of the jumping spider family, it possesses the characteristic large anterior median eyes and saltatory hunting behavior typical of Salticidae.
Myrmarachne
ant-mimic spiders, ant-mimicking jumping spiders
Myrmarachne is a large genus of ant-mimicking jumping spiders (Salticidae) first described by MacLeay in 1839. With approximately 188 described species, it is the most diverse genus of jumping spider in Southeast Asia. These spiders exhibit remarkable morphological and behavioral convergence with ants, including elongated cephalothoraxes with constricted waists, coloration matching local ant species, and foreleg waving to simulate antennae. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with several genera split off in recent years including Helicius (2016) and the revalidation of Emertonius (2018).
Myrmarachne formicaria
Ant-mimicking jumping spider
Myrmarachne formicaria is an ant-mimicking jumping spider (Salticidae) native to the Palearctic region and introduced to North America. It is one of few Myrmarachne species found outside the tropics. The species exhibits sophisticated locomotor mimicry, walking with all eight legs while adopting ant-like postures and movement patterns. It was first recorded in the United States in Ohio in 2001 and has since spread to multiple states.
Naphrys acerba
Naphrys acerba is a jumping spider species in the family Salticidae, distributed across the United States and Mexico. It was first described by the Peckhams in 1909 and represents one of the more southerly distributed members of the genus Naphrys. The species has been documented with precise locality records in northeastern Mexican states including Nuevo León and Tamaulipas, extending the known range of the genus beyond the Nearctic region.
Naphrys bufoides
Naphrys bufoides is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It belongs to the genus Naphrys, which is part of the diverse jumping spider assemblage. The species was described by Chamberlin and Ivie in 1944. Like other salticids, it is a visual hunter that does not construct webs to capture prey.
Naphrys pulex
flea jumping spider
Naphrys pulex is a small jumping spider (Salticidae) native to eastern North America. Males measure approximately 4 mm in body length, while females are larger at 4.6–6.1 mm. The species exhibits cryptic coloration with a yellowish bar-shaped mark on the abdomen and spotted, ringed legs. First described by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1846, it was transferred to the genus Naphrys in 1981. The species is primarily known for its ant-specialist diet.
Naphrys xerophila
Naphrys xerophila is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is a small spider, with adults measuring 2–4 mm in body length. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, where it inhabits dry, xeric environments.
Neon avalonus
Neon avalonus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Gertsch & Ivie in 1955. The species is known from the United States. As a member of the genus Neon, it possesses the characteristic salticid traits of excellent vision and jumping locomotion. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species.
Neon ellamae
Neon ellamae is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, described by Gertsch and Ivie in 1955. It belongs to the genus Neon, which comprises small jumping spiders found primarily in North America. The species is documented from the United States and Canada, with specific records from Manitoba. Like other salticids, it possesses excellent vision and active hunting behavior characteristic of jumping spiders.
Neon reticulatus
Neon reticulatus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It has a wide distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, including Turkey, the Caucasus, Russia (from European to Far East regions), Kazakhstan, Korea, and Japan. The species was first described by Blackwall in 1853. As a member of Salticidae, it possesses the characteristic large anterior median eyes and jumping locomotion typical of this family.
Orchestina
goblin spiders
Orchestina is a species-rich genus of tiny goblin spiders (family Oonopidae) containing over 180 extant species. Members measure 1.0–3.0 mm in body length and possess an enlarged fourth femur enabling jumping. The genus exhibits a nearly global distribution in the Northern Hemisphere south of 45°N, with highest diversity in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. First described by Eugène Simon in 1882.
Paramaevia
Paramaevia is a genus of jumping spiders in the family Salticidae. First described as a subgenus of Maevia in 1955, it was elevated to genus status in 1958, reduced to a junior synonym of Maevia in 1977, and reinstated as a valid genus by Jerzy Prószyński in 2017. The genus contains at least three described species. When included in Maevia, it was placed in the tribe Dendryphantini within the Salticoida clade of the subfamily Salticinae.
Paramaevia poultoni
Three-lined Maevia
Paramaevia poultoni is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the Three-lined Maevia. It is a small to medium-sized jumping spider found in North America. The species exhibits the characteristic large anterior median eyes and active hunting behavior typical of salticids.
Paraphidippus aurantius
emerald jumping spider, golden jumping spider
Paraphidippus aurantius is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the emerald jumping spider or golden jumping spider. It is a solitary, active predator with a relatively large body size for a jumping spider. The species employs a distinctive hunting strategy involving venom injection followed by retreat and observation, enabling it to subdue prey substantially larger than itself. Its distribution spans from the United States through Panama and includes the Greater Antilles.
Paraphidippus basalis
Agave Jumping Spider
Paraphidippus basalis is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the Agave Jumping Spider. It is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The species exhibits a notable ecological specialization, being strongly associated with rosette-forming plants including agaves, sotols, and yuccas. This degree of plant-specific habitat association is uncommon among jumping spiders, which are typically generalist predators.
Paraphidippus fartilis
Paraphidippus fartilis is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. The species was originally described by Peckham & Peckham in 1888 under the name Philaeus fartilis. Like other jumping spiders, it possesses excellent vision and active hunting behavior.
Peckhamia
Peckhamia is a genus of ant-mimicking jumping spiders (family Salticidae) first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1900, named in honor of arachnologists George and Elizabeth Peckham. Species in this genus exhibit striking myrmecomorphy—mimicking ants in body shape, movement patterns, and behavior. The genus is distinguished from related ant-mimicking genera such as Synageles by a more convex carapace in the cephalic area that slopes sharply downward behind the third row of eyes. Peckhamia species characteristically hold their second pair of legs aloft to simulate ant antennae, enhancing their deceptive appearance.
Peckhamia americana
American ant-mimic jumping spider
Peckhamia americana is a small jumping spider (family Salticidae) renowned for its striking ant-mimicry. The species holds its second pair of legs aloft to simulate antennae, creating a convincing illusion of a six-legged ant. It belongs to a group of salticids that have evolved this mimicry as a defensive strategy against predators that avoid ants. The spider is active and fast-moving, making it challenging to photograph or observe closely.
Peckhamia picata
antmimic jumper
Peckhamia picata is a North American jumping spider notable for its specialized mimicry of the ant Camponotus nearcticus. Unlike many ant-mimicking spiders that simply resemble ants in appearance, this species has been observed to specifically avoid eliciting aggressive responses from its ant model. The species belongs to a genus distinguished from related ant-mimic genera by convex carapace shape and sharply declivous posterior region behind the third row of eyes. Individuals are active runners that hold their second pair of legs aloft to simulate ant antennae, making them challenging photographic subjects.
Pelegrina aeneola
Coppered White-cheeked Jumping Spider
Pelegrina aeneola is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae, found in western North America. Females measure approximately 5.5 mm and males 5 mm, with pronounced sexual dimorphism in coloration. The species occupies diverse vegetation types and has been documented feeding on insect eggs. Despite being relatively well-observed, detailed natural history information remains limited.
Pelegrina arizonensis
Pelegrina arizonensis is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae. Despite its name, the species is not known from Arizona; confirmed records exist from Mexico, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. Males exhibit a metallic blue-black coloration with a distinctive entirely yellow fringe of hairs on the front legs, while females are larger and display a yellowish appearance with spots and stripes on the abdomen. The species inhabits oak woodland understory at elevations between 5,000 and 7,000 feet.
Pelegrina exigua
Pelegrina exigua is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. It is native to the United States. As a member of the Salticidae, it possesses the characteristic large anterior median eyes that provide acute vision for hunting and navigation. The genus Pelegrina includes numerous small to medium-sized jumping spiders distributed primarily in North America.
Pelegrina flaviceps
A species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, characterized by its yellowish head (as indicated by the species epithet flaviceps, meaning 'yellow-headed'). It is found in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. The species was described by Kaston in 1973. As a member of the genus Pelegrina, it shares the typical salticid traits of excellent vision and active hunting behavior.