How Far Can Jumping Spiders Jump?
WouterA jumping spider is a member of the Salticidae family, which is the largest family of spiders in the world. This group contains about 646 known species. They come in all shapes and colors.
Jumping spiders can jump up to 50 times the length of their body. They do this by changing the pressure in their hemolymph, a fluid that carries oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. In the process, they change the blood flow, which also extends their legs.
The take-off and landing posture of jumping spiders differs according to the task. Typically, a vertical posture is used for short jumps, while the spider lands on the edge of a landing platform. In contrast, when making a more challenging jump, the spider will overshoot the edge of the landing platform.
Researchers at the University of Manchester studied the physiology of a regal jumping spider. The study was conducted to determine whether the spider could be trained to perform jumps.
The research focused on four specimens, two males and two females. In the experiment, only one of the females showed an inclination to jump. The other three did not jump.
The spiders were placed in an experimental apparatus that was about 200 mm above the ground. The platforms were made of plywood. They were about 100 x 20 mm in size. The spiders were manually moved between the take-off and landing platforms. They were kept at room temperature of 22.5 degC.
