California Flattened Jumping Spider
ExploreInsects
California Flattened Jumping Spider
platycryptus californicus
The California Flattened Jumping Spider is a tiny, friendly spider that loves to jump! With its flat body, it can hide easily among leaves and rocks.
Habitat: They live in gardens, forests, and grasslands, hiding among plants and rocks.
Appearance
The California Flattened Jumping Spider is a small arachnid with a distinctly flattened, oval-shaped body, typically mottled brown and gray, sometimes with reddish-brown hairs. It often has a contrasting lighter stripe down its abdomen and iridescent green-blue chelicerae, making it blend seamlessly with bark.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassArachnidaOrderAraneaeFamilySalticidaeGenusPlatycryptus
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Before jumping, they 'glue' a silk safety line, like a bungee cord!
Scientists believe they might 'see' ultraviolet light, invisible to human eyes!
They can twist their whole head to look around without moving their body.
This spider doesn't build webs to catch food; it hunts like a tiny lion!
Special abilities
Ability
Acrobatic Leaper
California Flattened Jumping Spider can jump many times its body length because of powerful hydraulic legs that help them ambush prey.
Ability
Super Sights
California Flattened Jumping Spider has eight eyes, including two very large forward-facing ones that help them see in vivid color and pinpoint prey.
Ability
Safety Line Spinner
California Flattened Jumping Spider can produce silk for a safety tether while jumping, because it helps them retrace or prevent falls.
Measurements & details
- Size
- 6-13 mm
- Lifespan
- 365-730 days
- Leg Count
- 8
Diet & Feeding
This spider is a skilled hunter, preying on various small insects and other spiders.
Primary Foods
- flies
- gnats
- small beetles
- moths
- other small spiders
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
hunts
fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
a common small insect prey
hunts
house fly
Musca domestica
a frequent food source in human habitats
eaten by
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
a common bird predator
eaten by
western black widow
Latrodectus hesperus
eaten by larger, venomous spiders
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Also known as
California SpiderFlat Spider
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is California Flattened Jumping Spider?
6-13 mm
How long does California Flattened Jumping Spider live?
365-730 days
What does California Flattened Jumping Spider eat?
This spider is a skilled hunter, preying on various small insects and other spiders.
Where is California Flattened Jumping Spider usually found?
They live in gardens, forests, and grasslands, hiding among plants and rocks.
How does California Flattened Jumping Spider hunt?
Ambush
How many legs does California Flattened Jumping Spider have?
8
Snap Map
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