Zebra jumping spider


I have always liked jumping spiders.  First off, they don't build webs to catch their prey.  That means never walking inadvertently into one of their traps and involuntarily going into my spider dance, characterized by flailing limbs and occasional screaming.  Secondly, they are remarkable jumpers and fun to watch (as long as they don't land on me - this will likely trigger the spider dance).  

A jumping spider can jump 10 to 50 times its own length.  A small 10 mm spider could therefore jump from 10 cm (4 inches) to 50 cm (20 inches).  If we applied the same abilities to a six-foot human, that person could jump 60 to 300 feet.  They use this launching ability to capture prey, move to new hunting areas, and escape predation.  Then there is their employment of a drag line.  

Jumpers can only see about a foot in front of them.  Although they have excellent vision for an invertebrate, this means that jumping into space can be a dangerous venture.  So, before leaping, they attach a silken thread to the substrate they launch from and string the line behind them for safety.  They can also dangle from this and will ease themselves down until they reach a safe place to land.  Next time you find a jumping spider on the side of your house, tap your finger beside it and watch as it jumps into oblivion with a drag line following its descent.

People keep jumping spiders as pets.  They are easy to maintain and are trainable to some degree.  Many species of these arachnids are colourful (males especially) and have intricate courtship routines.  The peacock jumper is well known for this and well worth a look; click here to see for yourself (it's a great video!).  

A fun note: there is a cartoon jumping spider named Lucas that you can watch on Youtube.  Click here to see the videos.  Cute.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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