# Zebra Jumping Spider (*salticus scenicus*) The Zebra Jumping Spider is a tiny, lively spider known for its striking black and white stripes! It loves to hop around and catch its prey with its impressive jumping skills. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 90 - **Habitat:** Zebra Jumping Spiders are commonly found in gardens, grasslands, and along walls and windows. - **Also known as:** Striped Spider, Zebra Spider ![Zebra Jumping Spider](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kaldari_Salticus_scenicus_male_01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kaldari, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kaldari_Salticus_scenicus_male_01.jpg) ## Appearance The Zebra Jumping Spider has a compact, furry body with a distinctive black and white striped pattern, reminiscent of a zebra. It features eight prominent eyes, with two very large ones facing forward, giving it a keen, curious gaze. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Arachnida - **Order:** Araneae - **Family:** Salticidae - **Genus:** Salticus ## Interesting facts - Male zebra jumping spiders perform elaborate dances to impress females! - Some people say they can feel these spiders watching them back! - These tiny spiders can learn and remember complex hunting strategies. - They are known to clean their multiple eyes using tiny bristles on their legs. ## Special abilities - **Hydraulic Leaper:** Zebra Jumping Spider can jump up to 50 times its body length because of hydraulic pressure in its legs that helps them ambush prey. - **Precision Vision:** Zebra Jumping Spider has eight eyes providing almost 360-degree vision that helps them spot tiny prey and predators with incredible accuracy. - **Safety Line:** Zebra Jumping Spider can produce a silk dragline while jumping that helps them safely retrieve if a pounce misses its target. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 3-7 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-730 days - **Leg Count:** 8 ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters pounce on small insects using their amazing jumping skills. - **Primary Foods:** Flies, Gnats, Small beetles, Aphids, Other small arthropods - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — A common prey item for the jumping spider. - **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Birds are common predators of many spider species. - **Eaten by:** European garden spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Larger spiders may prey on smaller jumping spiders. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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. ## 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 Zebra 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 Zebra Jumping Spider? 3-7 mm ### How long does Zebra Jumping Spider live? 365-730 days ### What does Zebra Jumping Spider eat? These tiny hunters pounce on small insects using their amazing jumping skills. ### Where is Zebra Jumping Spider usually found? Zebra Jumping Spiders are commonly found in gardens, grasslands, and along walls and windows. ### How does Zebra Jumping Spider hunt? Ambush ### How many legs does Zebra Jumping Spider have? 8 ## Where to spot - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Bellefontaine Cemetery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellefontaine-cemetery) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District [View all places to see Zebra Jumping Spider](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/zebra-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: [Zebra Jumping Spider: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/zebra-jumping-spider)