Jumping spiders

MadMauC · Sep 15, 2014

Caught this 3.5mm spunky cutie hanging around my T tubs - probably hunting for a stray pinhead cricket. The abdomen markings has a smiley face. Its hilaroius how it was pushing flashing its white pedipalps as if to warn me - to "back off or I'll jump and bite you" - feisty and adorable. Can anyone ID him?

https://vimeo.com/106178106 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

edgeofthefreak · Sep 15, 2014

Oh wow. That is super cute. I get three different kinds/colours of jumpers on my balcony, but none has smiley faces! Mine are black with green chelicerae, black/brown, and an almost OBT shade of orange. I find them chasing each other around.

And now I'm going to start looking for smiling ones too!

Edit: doesn't matter that you're far far from me, I'm still gonna look for them.

MadMauC · Sep 15, 2014

Yeah he is - I had to control my chuckling and not shaking the camera while taking the video- he was way more responsive/reactive to me than any of my Ts - probably because jumpers are prey sight hunters and have more acute vision than Ts - have a few others in my apartment - 1 lives inside my shower stall - will look out for them and see if they are same species with smiley faces

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Spepper · Sep 15, 2014

I love it when they jerk their little fuzzy pedipalps up and down like that! It's very cute, and gives them such character too.

JayDangerVL · Sep 16, 2014

Er... could it maybe be Hasarius adansoni? Maybe like a juvenile? That's my wild guess anyway. Nice find, at any rate!

MadMauC · Sep 16, 2014

JayDangerVL said:
Er... could it maybe be Hasarius adansoni? Maybe like a juvenile? That's my wild guess anyway. Nice find, at any rate!

Google the species, you're absolutely right! Many thanks

it actually seems quite intelligent - very inquisitive and with the smiley face - cheeky - I am new fan of it!!!

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JayDangerVL · Sep 16, 2014

lol I rarely trust a Google search when it comes to spiders, but thank you.

I totally know what you mean about the jumper having that sort of personality! Jumpers are my favorite kind of spider to keep--they seem very cat-like to me. The most common ones I get around my house are Phidippus audax and Playcryptus undatus. Both beautiful jumpers with amazing personalities!

MadMauC · Sep 17, 2014

Oooohh that p audax is stunning!
Growing up, it's almost a schoolboy tradition that we keep - THIANIA BHAMOENSIS aka malaysian Singapore fighting spider - I was the rescue centre for battled males - nursing them back to health and releasing them in my garden.

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JayDangerVL · Sep 17, 2014

Wow! I love the colors on these guys! I've never heard of a spider like that--that's so cool! I just looked up a youtube video--almost like they just sort of take part in grappling matches, right?

miss moxie · Sep 18, 2014

Wow, that one looks like it has a spooky Halloween face on it's bum!! I love it, perfect timing.

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MadMauC · Sep 18, 2014

JayDangerVL said:
Wow! I love the colors on these guys! I've never heard of a spider like that--that's so cool! I just looked up a youtube video--almost like they just sort of take part in grappling matches, right?

We kept them in little tin boxes with a leaf - on our breaks, we will take them out to battle - usually after the male contestants have been pepped up and shown a female, they go a little berserk. The males will grapple, shove and occasionally bite the opponent - winner gets the girl.

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JayDangerVL · Sep 18, 2014

Are there any rules to the fights? Does everybody have to bring their own female, too? Do these have to take place during a certain time of year, or does it go year-round?

The Snark · Sep 18, 2014

JayDangerVL said:
Are there any rules to the fights? Does everybody have to bring their own female, too? Do these have to take place during a certain time of year, or does it go year-round?

Free for all. Anything goes. Rappelling, ankle biting, hiding behind a horsefly, puddle jumping and lots of calling each other nasty names. Often the female hangs about to watch, only to turn the winner into her dinner.

Jumping spiders

MadMauC

Arachnopeon

edgeofthefreak

Arachno-titled!

MadMauC

Arachnopeon

Spepper

Arachnodemon

JayDangerVL

Arachnosquire

MadMauC

Arachnopeon

JayDangerVL

Arachnosquire

MadMauC

Arachnopeon

JayDangerVL

Arachnosquire

miss moxie

Arachnoprince

MadMauC

Arachnopeon

JayDangerVL

Arachnosquire

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods