Most of us spare little love for spiders. With their strange, spindly walks across our walls and our ceilings, our responses to spiders typically range from fear to hatred to hesitant neutrality. But there’s one type of spider that’s more tolerated than the rest — and that’s the jumping spider.
The jumping spiders, or the Salticidae, are a family of over 600 separate genera and over 6,000 separate species of spider. The spiders themselves are curious and inquisitive, and they are favored among arachnid admirers for their cleverness and their adorable, almost friendly appearance. All the more amazing, these tiny critters heed human commands and hop to incredible heights.
They’re the most charming spider, and they’re certainly the cutest. They’re also the most diverse, with the family featuring a stunning 13 percent of all spider species. So, here’s what you’re hopping to hear about jumping spiders.
What Do Jumping Spiders Look Like?
The spiders in the Salticidae family are among the most identifiable spiders in the world. Smattered in short, sensitive bristles that allow the spiders to sense and navigate their surroundings, the Salticidae tend to be small, sturdy, and stubbier than the typical spider. Making them all the more special are their shimmering orbs, of which four sit at the front of their faces.
