There are many unique jumping spiders in the spider world, and the Salticinae jumping spider is one of them. Thanks to its intriguing spider antics and brilliance, the Salticinae has charmed its way into the heart of many spider enthusiasts.
Like many of the jumping spiders we have encountered, the Salticinae is a subfamily of jumping spiders. And because it has a close relationship with the family Salticidae, it shares many of the physical characteristics that are common among the members of this jumping spider species. And just so you know, the Salticinae is divided into two unranked clades: Salticoida and Amycoida.
While the Salticinae is a subfamily of jumping spiders and is closely associated with the larger family of Salticids, our leaper friends still have some distinct features that make them different from other members of the Salticidae.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Salticinae and what makes it different from other jumping spider species.
What is their scientific name?
What makes most jumping spiders unique is their name, and for our leaper friends, this is quite true. But while other jumping spiders we have encountered have a common name they are referred to, our leaper friends don’t really have a general name they are called; instead, their scientific name, Salticinae, is what they have been called for eons.
Besides their name, the Salticinae jumping spider has many things going for them in terms of physical description, and we will delve into all of that shortly.
Physical description and size
Like we mentioned earlier, when it comes to physical description, members of the Saltcinae subfamily have unique features that differentiate them from many of the jumping spiders we have encountered. In terms of size, the Salticinae jumping spider is a small to medium-sized jumping spider. Like other jumping spiders, adult females of this subfamily are slightly bigger than their male counterparts.
While females measure between 7 to 10 mm, males come in a little smaller and measure between 5 to 9 mm. Adult females of this jumping spider species don’t have a tarsal saw, which is typically located on the pedipalp of other jumping spiders.
On the flip side, the palpal bulb of the males’ basal salticids features a very distinct median apophysis, which you’ll not find among members of the subfamily. Also, the male’s cymbium is mostly constricted to their tibial joint.
Unlike other jumping spiders, members of this subfamily have a complete tracheal system, which experts believe is connected to their movement. And because most Salticinae moves more abruptly than other Salticids, they have a recognizable gait that makes them easy to identify.
Now that you know a couple of things about their physical description and size, it’s time to bring you up to speed on where our leaper friends are from.
Where are they from?
Like their parent family Saticidae, the Salticinae has a widespread distribution, and that’s because members of this subfamily have been spotted in almost all continents. From Asia to Africa to America to Europe and others, there is practically no continent you’ll visit that you won’t find members of this subfamily of jumping spiders.
Their widespread distribution is has been attributed to their ability to thrive in almost any environment they find themselves in.
Habitat and distribution
Because of their ability to thrive in any environment, they find themselves; the Salticinae has been spotted in temperate and tropical regions. From rainforests to woodland to savannah and more, you’ll find our leaper friends on wall surfaces, grasses, under rocks, and even around human settlements as they like to hunt for prey.
Suppose you want to get a glimpse of what our spider friends look like; these are the areas you want to explore.
Diet/food
Most jumping spiders live a solitary life and can adequately fend for themselves in the wild. Thanks to their excellent vision and superb jumping skills, our leaper friends will lay an ambush for their prey and pounce on them with their swift jumping skills.
While they will feed on small insects like mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, aphids, ants, and more, they aren’t scared of confronting much larger insects like crickets and grasshoppers. On a starving day, our leaper friends will feast on members of their family as well as other tiny web-building spiders.
However, if you want to raise this jumping spider species in captivity, you must ensure you feed them adequately. And to do this, you have to provide feeder insects that you can either catch around your home or order directly from pet stores close to you.
What is their temperament?
Giving their fierce and threatening look, many people get freaked out when they come across spiders. But guess what? Jumping spiders such as the Salticinae are changing the negative perceptions that people have about spiders.
While they will typically act aggressive and vicious towards their prey, most jumping spiders will shy away when they encounter humans. And because they are friendly and harmless, many exotic pet lovers wouldn’t mind adding them to their exotic pets collections.
Is it dangerous or venomous to humans?
Jumping spiders may look harmless and attractive, but guess what, our leaper friends will bite when they feel threatened or handled roughly. Plus, their venom is potent enough to incapacitate their prey.
That said, jumping spiders such as the Salticinae are not dangerous to humans. And their venom also doesn’t harm humans. Plus, if you ever get bitten by our leaper friends, the most you’ll experience is slight pains, redness, and irritations that subsides after a couple of days.
Frequently asked questions: Learn more about Salticinae.
What is the lifespan of Salticinae?
Like most jumping spiders, the Salticnae has a short lifespan. And that’s because they live for only six months to 1 year. Similarly, females of this species live longer than their male counterparts.
Where are they from?
Because of their widespread distribution, it will be challenging to state precisely where our leaper friends come from. That said, keep in mind that our leaper friends have been sighted in almost all continents, including Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and the rest.
Can you raise them as pets?
Thanks to their friendly demeanor, brilliant color, and thrilling spider displays, our leaper friends will make terrific pets.
