Jumping-spider
Guides
Plexippus paykulli
Pantropical Jumping Spider
Plexippus paykulli is a cosmopolitan jumping spider native to Southeast Asia, now established across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Commonly called the pantropical jumping spider, it is strongly associated with human-built structures, particularly building exteriors near light sources where it hunts insects. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males display black bodies with bold white stripes, while females are brownish-grey with tan markings. It is an active diurnal predator that does not construct prey-capture webs, relying instead on acute vision, stalking, and jumping to subdue prey.
Poultonella
Poultonella is a genus of jumping spiders in the family Salticidae, endemic to the United States. It was established by George and Elizabeth Peckham in 1909 and named in honor of British entomologist Edward Bagnall Poulton. The genus contains only two described species: P. alboimmaculata and P. nuecesensis. These spiders are characterized by distinctive cephalothorax and eye arrangements.
Poultonella alboimmaculata
Poultonella alboimmaculata is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Peckham & Peckham in 1883. It is endemic to the United States. As a jumping spider, it possesses the characteristic salticid eye arrangement and active hunting behavior. The specific epithet 'alboimmaculata' suggests a white or unmarked appearance, though detailed coloration descriptions are limited in available sources. The genus Poultonella is small and poorly documented, with few species.
Pseudeuophrys erratica
Black-palped Jumping Spider
Pseudeuophrys erratica is a small jumping spider native to Europe and Asia that has been introduced to the eastern and western United States. Unlike its congener P. lanigera, which is abundant in and around buildings, P. erratica is uncommon and prefers natural habitats. Adults are active primarily in spring and summer, with females persisting into autumn.
Pseudeuophrys lanigera
House Jumping Spider
Pseudeuophrys lanigera is a small jumping spider native to southwestern Europe that has expanded its range northward and eastward since the mid-20th century. It is strongly associated with human structures, particularly in northern parts of its range where it is found almost exclusively indoors or on building exteriors. Adults are active year-round, including winter months. The species shows notable adaptation to dry, heated environments of modern concrete buildings.
Rhetenor
Rhetenor is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1902. Spiders in this genus are known for their beetle-mimicking appearance. As of 2019, the genus contains two described species: R. diversipes and R. texanus. The genus name references Rhetnor, a character from Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Rhetenor texanus
Rhetenor texanus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Gertsch in 1936. It is one of the few species in the small genus Rhetenor. The species has been documented in Texas and Veracruz, Mexico, with limited observational records overall.
Salticus
Zebra spiders, Jumping spiders
Salticus is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae), the type genus for the family. Species range from 3–7 mm in body length and are distinguished by coloration produced by specialized scales covering a dark integument. Several common species exhibit transverse black-and-white striping that gives the group its "zebra spider" common name, though some species display iridescent or red-and-white patterns instead. The genus has been recorded on every continent except Antarctica, with highest diversity in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and the Mediterranean region.
Salticus austinensis
zebra spider
Salticus austinensis, commonly known as the zebra spider, is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is found in the United States, Mexico, and Central America. As a member of the genus Salticus, it shares the characteristic bold black-and-white coloration that gives these spiders their common name. Jumping spiders in this family are known for their excellent vision and active hunting behavior.
Salticus palpalis
Salticus palpalis is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Banks in 1904. It belongs to a genus known for its excellent vision and active hunting behavior. The species has been recorded in the United States and Mexico.
Salticus peckhamae
Salticus peckhamae is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell in 1897. The species was originally named Icius peckhamae in honor of arachnologist Elizabeth Peckham. It is known from the United States.
Salticus scenicus
Zebra Jumping Spider, Zebra Spider, Zebra Back Spider
Salticus scenicus is a small jumping spider recognized by its bold black-and-white striped pattern. Adult females measure 4–7 mm in body length, males 4–6 mm. Males exhibit elongated chelicerae with long fangs used in combat with rival males. The species is native to Eurasia but has spread globally through human commerce, now common across temperate regions of North America and Europe. It is frequently observed on vertical surfaces such as walls and fenceposts in urban and suburban environments.
Sarinda
Sarinda is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) in the tribe Sarindini, established by Peckham & Peckham in 1892. The genus contains species distributed in the Neotropics, with documented records in Uruguay including S. marcosi, S. sombraluminosa, and S. contraluz. Members of this genus exhibit myrmecomorphy—morphological and behavioral mimicry of ants. The genus is distinguished from related taxa by characters of the genitalia and somatic morphology.
Sassacus
Leaf-beetle Jumping Spiders
Sassacus is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) first described in 1895. Adults are exceptionally small, measuring 3-5 mm (males) or 4.4-5.5 mm (females). Many species exhibit iridescent coloration and compact bodies, suspected to mimic chemically defended leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae). The genus occurs across North America from southern British Columbia through Central America, inhabiting broadleaved plants in open fields and forest edges.
Sassacus cyaneus
Sassacus cyaneus is a small jumping spider native to eastern and central North America. Adults measure 2.4-4.8 mm in body length, with females larger than males. The species exhibits distinctive metallic coloration and a compact, beetle-like appearance that may serve as Batesian mimicry of chemically defended leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae). Originally described as Attus cyaneus in 1846, it was transferred to Sassacus in 2008 when the genus Agassa was synonymized. The specific epithet refers to the dark blue metallic coloration.
Sassacus paiutus
Sassacus paiutus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Gertsch in 1934. It belongs to a genus noted for compact body form, iridescent coloration, and suspected leaf beetle mimicry. The genus name honors Sassacus, the last chief of the Pequot Indians. Like other jumping spiders, it is a visual predator with distinctive courtship behaviors.
Sassacus papenhoei
Sassacus papenhoei is a small jumping spider species in the family Salticidae, native to North America. Adult males measure approximately 3–5 mm, while females are slightly larger at 4.4–5.5 mm. The species exhibits compact body proportions with notably short legs, and is suspected to be a mimic of iridescent leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae). It has been documented in Colorado and across a range extending from southern British Columbia through the United States into Central America.
Synageles
antlike jumping spiders
Synageles is a genus of ant-mimicking jumping spiders (family Salticidae) first described by Eugène Simon in 1876. The genus contains approximately 19–20 described species distributed across the Old World from Spain to China, with one species in northern Africa (S. repudiatus from Egypt), and in the New World from Mexico to Canada. These spiders exhibit striking morphological and behavioral mimicry of ants, including holding their second pair of legs aloft to simulate antennae and adopting characteristic ant-like locomotion.
Synageles bishopi
Synageles bishopi is a species of ant-mimicking jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is native to the continental United States. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits Batesian mimicry of ants, holding its second pair of legs aloft to simulate antennae. The species was described by Cutler in 1988.
Synageles noxiosus
Synageles noxiosus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is found in North America and the Bahama Islands. The species belongs to a genus of ant-mimicking jumping spiders, characterized by their distinctive morphology and behavior that allows them to resemble ants.
Synageles occidentalis
Synageles occidentalis is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Cutler in 1988. The species is known from the United States and Canada, with distribution records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a jumping spider, it likely exhibits the characteristic visual hunting behavior and salticid morphology typical of the family, though specific behavioral and ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Synageles venator
Palaearctic Antmimic Jumping Spider
Synageles venator is a small ant-mimicking jumping spider in the family Salticidae. Females reach approximately 4 mm in length, with males slightly smaller. The species exhibits striking myrmecomorphy—mimicking ants in appearance, movement, and behavior. It holds its second pair of legs raised like antennae and moves with rapid, halting urgency characteristic of ants. This mimicry provides protection from predators that have learned to avoid ants due to their chemical defenses.
Synemosyna formica
Ant-mimic jumping spider
Synemosyna formica is a species of jumping spider (Salticidae) known for its remarkable mimicry of ants. It is found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. The species employs a distinctive ant-mimicry strategy: it elevates its first pair of legs to imitate ant antennae, unlike related ant-mimics such as Synageles species which use their second pair of legs for this purpose.
Synemosyna petrunkevitchi
Synemosyna petrunkevitchi is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It belongs to the genus Synemosyna, which is known for ant-mimicking species. The species occurs in the United States and Cuba. Published observations remain limited.
Talavera minuta
Minute Jumping Spider
Talavera minuta is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is one of the smallest members of its genus, with an adult body length of approximately 2-3 mm. The species has a transcontinental distribution spanning eastern Russia and North America. Like other salticids, it possesses excellent vision and active hunting behavior, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Terralonus
Terralonus is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) endemic to the United States, first described by Wayne Paul Maddison in 1996. The genus contains seven species distributed across the country, with the type species being Terralonus mylothrus. As members of the jumping spider family, species in this genus possess the characteristic large anterior median eyes and salticid hunting behavior. Research on Terralonus fraternus in Kansas has demonstrated that slope orientation affects reproductive success, suggesting microhabitat factors play a significant role in population dynamics.
Terralonus californicus
Intertidal Jumping Spider, Beach Jumping Spider
Terralonus californicus is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae, notable as one of the few spider species known to regularly inhabit coastal beach environments. It is found in the United States, primarily along the Pacific coast. The species has been documented through over 750 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is relatively well-observed among coastal arachnids. Its intertidal habitat distinguishes it from most other jumping spiders, which typically occupy terrestrial vegetation and ground habitats.
Terralonus fraternus
Terralonus fraternus is a jumping spider (Salticidae) described by Banks in 1932. It has been studied in north central Kansas for the effect of slope orientation on its reproductive success. The species inhabits sloped terrain where microclimate differences between north-facing and south-facing slopes influence reproductive output.
Terralonus mylothrus
Terralonus mylothrus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by Chamberlin in 1925. It belongs to the genus Terralonus, which comprises small to medium-sized jumping spiders found in North America. The species is known from a limited number of observations and collections, primarily in the United States. As with other salticids, it possesses excellent vision and active hunting behavior.
Tutelina harti
Hart's Jumping Spider
Tutelina harti is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is found in the United States and Canada, with records from provinces including Manitoba and Ontario. Like other members of the genus Tutelina, it exhibits sexual dimorphism. The species is part of a group of small, visually oriented hunters known for their distinctive markings and ant-mimicking behaviors in some populations.
Tutelina similis
Thick-spined Jumping Spider
Tutelina similis is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae, native to North America. Males measure 4.0–5.0 mm in body length and display striking black and white facial markings, including distinctive "eyebrow" lines behind the anterior median eyes. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with females being slightly larger and differently patterned. It is primarily active in June, when adults mature and hunt in sunlit patches of understory vegetation. Some populations have been documented as ant-mimics and ant specialists.
Zygoballus rufipes
Hammer-jawed Jumping Spider
Zygoballus rufipes is a small jumping spider distributed from Canada through the United States to Central America. Adult females measure 4.3–6 mm in body length, while males are smaller at 3–4 mm. Males exhibit body-size dimorphism with two distinct size classes, a trait linked to alternative life-history strategies. The species was first described from Guatemala in 1885 and later synonymized with Z. bettini in 1980.
Zygoballus sexpunctatus
Zygoballus sexpunctatus is a small jumping spider (3–4.5 mm) found in grassy habitats of the southeastern United States. Males possess enlarged chelicerae and front femora, and exhibit elaborate courtship and agonistic displays involving leg-raising and abdominal vibration. The species name refers to the six abdominal spots typically present in males, though these may be reduced or absent. First described by Hentz in 1845, it was later transferred to the genus Zygoballus by the Peckhams in 1888.