How High Do Spiders Jump?
WouterAlmost all spiders have the ability to jump. They can reach a distance of fifty times their body length. The average spider uses their spinnerets to build elaborate webs. However, some species use a different strategy. Rather than making a web, they jump to catch their prey.
Jumping spiders are typically small. The regal jumping spider can leap six times its body length. It can also make silk to keep its body stabilized.
The jumping spider is known for its incredible eyesight. The spider’s central eyes have an outer lens that magnifies the image that is projected onto the retina. They have a smaller inner lens that projects the image directly onto the retina.
While there is little information on how the brain of a jumping spider works, scientists do know that it contains a large number of neurons that are able to perceive sound. In fact, the study of these spiders’ eyes shows that they can sense vibrations as far as ten feet away.
The jumping spider is a member of the Salticidae family. This family includes more than 6,380 species of spiders worldwide. Many species are carnivorous, feeding on insects such as caterpillars, grasshoppers and beetles. Some species even feed on nectar.
The jumping spider can be found on all continents except Antarctica. It lives at low and high altitudes. It primarily feeds on caterpillars, but some species also eat pollen and plant matter. Its venom is not harmful to humans.
