Tan Jumping Spider
ExploreInsects
Tan Jumping Spider
platycryptus undatus
The Tan Jumping Spider is a small and lively spider known for its incredible jumping ability! These little creatures are great at catching insects and are often found in gardens and grassy areas.
Habitat: Gardens, grassy areas, and shrubs.
Appearance
The Tan Jumping Spider is a small, stout spider typically tan to grayish-brown with a flattened body, often featuring a distinctive herringbone pattern on its abdomen. It has large, forward-facing eyes, giving it excellent vision, and sometimes shows white stripes under its eyes, especially males.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassArachnidaOrderAraneaeFamilySalticidaeGenusPlatycryptus
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
135
Interesting facts
Despite being tiny, their intelligence allows them to plan hunting routes to catch tricky prey.
Tan Jumping Spiders clean their large front eyes by wiping them with their tiny leg-like pedipalps!
Their eight eyes are arranged for 360-degree vision, with two giant forward-facing ones for focus!
They perform elaborate, unique courtship dances to attract a mate, showing off their patterns!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Sight
Tan Jumping Spider has incredibly sharp eyesight that helps them spot tiny prey from a distance.
Ability
Leaping Hunter
Tan Jumping Spider can leap many times its body length to pounce on unsuspecting insects with precision.
Ability
Safety Net
Tan Jumping Spider spins a silk dragline that acts as a safety rope for jumps and quick descents.
Ability
Natural Camouflage
Tan Jumping Spider has a mottled brown and tan coloration that helps them blend perfectly into tree bark.
Measurements & details
- Size
- 8-13 mm
- Lifespan
- 300-450 days
- Leg Count
- 8
Diet & Feeding
Tiny predators, they eat many different small insects they hunt with their excellent eyesight.
Primary Foods
- flies
- mosquitoes
- small caterpillars
- moths
- aphids
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
hunts
House Fly
Musca domestica
a quick protein meal on sunny walls.
hunts
Yellow Fever Mosquito
Aedes aegypti
helping to control pesky insect populations.
eaten by
.jpg&width=800)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
a small, nutritious snack for hungry birds.
eaten by
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
a common meal for garden lizards.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Arboreal
Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
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.
Also known as
Active Spider
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Tan Jumping Spider?
The easiest way to identify Tan Jumping Spider is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How big is Tan Jumping Spider?
8-13 mm
How long does Tan Jumping Spider live?
300-450 days
What does Tan Jumping Spider eat?
Tiny predators, they eat many different small insects they hunt with their excellent eyesight.
Where is Tan Jumping Spider usually found?
Gardens, grassy areas, and shrubs.
How does Tan Jumping Spider hunt?
Ambush
How many legs does Tan Jumping Spider have?
8
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Jun 19, 2026
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuaryi
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 12, 2026
Great Falls Parki
Photo attribution
(c) Mark Richman, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 9, 2026
Haym Salomon Memorial Parki
Photo attribution
(c) i_da_naturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 6, 2026
J. Edward Roush Lakei
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 6, 2026
J. Edward Roush Lakei
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
Park35 sightings50 species
Illinois, US
Anderson Japanese Gardens
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Brown-Belted Bumble Bee.
View guide →
Park36 sightings50 species
Rhode Island, US
Ashton Historic District
You might spot Common Mugwort, Duck, and Azure Bluet.
View guide →
Park44 sightings50 species
Connecticut, US
Bean Hill Historic District
You might spot Striped Wintergreen and Common Eastern Bumble Bee.
View guide →
Park45 sightings50 species
Rhode Island, US
Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District
You might spot Spotted Lanternfly, Duck, and American Robin.
View guide →
Park45 sightings50 species
Michigan, US
Broadway Avenue Historic District
You might spot Monarch, Canada Goose, and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
View guide →
Park43 sightings50 species
Rhode Island, US
Broadway-Armory Historic District
You might spot Spotted Lanternfly, Duck, and American Robin.
View guide →
.jpg&width=800)
.jpg&width=800)
