# Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider (*phidippus comatus*) The Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider is a small, colorful spider with fluffy tufts of hair that help it blend into its surroundings. It's an amazing jumper, capable of leaping great distances to catch its prey! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** They are commonly found in gardens, meadows, and around homes in North America. - **Also known as:** Fluffy Jumper, Tufty Spider ![Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phidippus_comatus.jpg&width=800) Photo: iNaturalist user: hurlbert, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phidippus_comatus.jpg) ## Appearance The Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider is a small, robust arachnid. Males typically feature a black body with iridescent green-blue chelicerae and distinctive bright orange-red tufts on their head. Females are often mottled brown or gray with similar iridescent mouthparts. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Arachnida - **Order:** Araneae - **Family:** Salticidae - **Genus:** Phidippus ## Interesting facts - Instead of large hunting webs, they spin small silk 'retreats' for safety and molting. - These spiders clean their main eyes with tiny bristly hairs on their pedipalps! - They are intelligent hunters, capable of planning complex routes to reach hidden prey! - They use hydraulic pressure to extend their legs, allowing powerful jumps without huge muscles! ## Special abilities - **Leaping Hunter:** Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider can launch itself great distances to catch prey because of powerful muscles in its legs. - **360-Degree Vision:** Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider has eight eyes, including two large forward-facing eyes, that help them see in all directions and detect tiny movements. - **Safety Silk Line:** Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider can produce a silk dragline that helps them quickly retrieve themselves if a jump misses its target. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 6-10 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-1095 days - **Leg Count:** 8 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny hunters that eat small insects they catch with powerful jumps. - **Primary Foods:** flies, leafhoppers, small crickets, aphids - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Fruit Fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fruit-fly) (*Drosophila melanogaster*) — A common small insect prey in their habitat. - **Hunts:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Important for controlling garden pests. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — A small bird that preys on various arthropods. - **Eaten by:** Green Anole (*Anolis carolinensis*) — Small lizards frequently consume jumping 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. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [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. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hairy Tufted 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 Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider? 6-10 mm ### How long does Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider live? 365-1095 days ### What does Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider eat? Tiny hunters that eat small insects they catch with powerful jumps. ### Where is Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider usually found? They are commonly found in gardens, meadows, and around homes in North America. ### How does Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider hunt? Pursuit ### How many legs does Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider have? 8 ## Where to spot - [Barrio De Analco Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrio-de-analco-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Mesilla Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesilla-plaza) — New Mexico, US · Park - [Painted Hills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/painted-hills) — Oregon, US · Natural Landmark - [James Cant Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/james-cant-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Vista Meadows Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vista-meadows-park) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hairy-tufted-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: [Hairy Tufted Jumping Spider: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-tufted-jumping-spider)