JUMPING SPIDER

any member of the spider family Salticidae (or Attidae, order Araneida). About 3,000 species are known; most are small to medium-sized. They are very common in the tropics, but many also live in northern and Arctic regions. The hairy body is often brightly coloured or strikingly patterned. Jumping spiders have keen vision for spiders; they are active during the day and are usually found in sunny areas. At night they hide in closely woven nests under bark, stones, or leaves. Several members of the same species often build nests close together. The minute jumping spiders, family Oonopidae, are found in the tropics in leaf litter and in buildings.