INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The Jumping Spider, (Sitticus palustris), is a diurnal animal with excellent eyesight, that pursues its prey and leaps upon it. It has an all-round view of its surroundings because of its large, central, front eyes. It is about the size of a 20c piece when fully grown, with pin size legs. There are many different species but all jump and turn their heads separately from their bodies to look at objects. They live in houses and gardens and are most common in Summer, Australia wide. It is a roving spider but hangs from web lines at night. It rarely bites people and causes only mild local pain. |
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HABITATA Jumping spider may high jump 20cm or more and can leap 25 times its own body length. Its trailing silken safety line keeps it stable in flight as well as catching it if it falls. A male Jumping spider courts a female by "dancing" to display any special markings, like the Peacock spider. The male of one Jumping spider, the Gliding spider can extend hair-fringed flaps from the sides of its abdomen which help it glide while leaping. |