These spiders are very distinctive. They vary a lot in size (3-17mm), and color, but the arrangement of their eyes will always give them away. They have three or four rows of eyes. The front row look forward, and the middle two eyes in that row are much larger than the others.
All spiders have two body-segments, a cephalothorax in front and an abdomen behind. They have eight legs, all attached to the cephalothorax. On the front they have two small "mini-legs" called palps. These are used to grab prey, and in mating, and are much bigger in male spiders than in females. All spiders have fangs that they use to bite their prey with, like most spiders, jumping spiders have venom glands that produce toxic chemicals that help paralyze and digest their food.
Female spiders are often much bigger than males.
This is the largest family of spiders, with over 5,000 species around the world.
These spiders roam in a wide variety of habitats. Pretty much anywhere they can find prey, they will live.
Like all spiders, Jumping Spiders hatch from eggs, and the hatchlings are very similar to the adults, only smaller. As they grow they have to shed their skin all at once, this is called molting. Most Jumping Spiders have to molt 5 or 6 times before they become adults.
Most Jumping Spiders don't live for more than about a year, but some species may live longer, especially in cold climates where they have to be dormant for many months each year.
Because they rely on their vision to hunt and find mates, these spiders are mostly active during the day. At night, and when molting, they hide in small chambers made of silk and attached to vegetation.
Some species in this group have courtship dances. The males are brightly colored, and they wave their front legs and dance to communicate to a female. She often does a dance in response.
These spiders don't use silk to catch prey, they stalk and pounce on insects and other invertebrates, using their excellent vision.
This species is very alert, and jumps or runs away if danger threatens. Species in this family will sometimes try to scare away other small predators, waving their front legs and moving their fangs.
Jumping spiders may eat flies and other insects that are pests.