# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** They live in gardens, forests, and grasslands, hiding among plants and rocks. - **Also known as:** California Spider, Flat Spider ![California Flattened Jumping Spider](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kaldari_Platycryptus_californicus_male_01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kaldari, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kaldari_Platycryptus_californicus_male_01.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Arachnida - **Order:** Araneae - **Family:** Salticidae - **Genus:** Platycryptus ## 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 - **Acrobatic Leaper:** California Flattened Jumping Spider can jump many times its body length because of powerful hydraulic legs that help them ambush prey. - **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. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dark-eyed-junco) (*Junco hyemalis*) — a common bird predator - **Eaten by:** [western black widow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-black-widow) (*Latrodectus hesperus*) — eaten by larger, venomous spiders ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Flattened Jumping Spider? Compare body proportions, leg shape, abdomen markings and the web, if there is one. Eye arrangement can be decisive but rarely shows up in a casual phone photo. A web is a supporting clue, not proof of who built it. Spider Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Discovery Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/discovery-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Painted Hills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/painted-hills) — Oregon, US · Natural Landmark - [Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/folsom-city-zoo-sanctuary) — California, US · Zoo - [James Cant Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/james-cant-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Main Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/main-avenue-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see California Flattened Jumping Spider](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-flattened-jumping-spider) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [California Flattened Jumping Spider Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-flattened-jumping-spider)