Photo 1
Salticides (jumping spiders) live virtually anywhere outside. Rather than build webs to trap food, they hunt and jump on anything that moves. They sometimes come indoors searching for food.
While hunting, a Salticide will jump onto people or animals that are in range. After a quick search the tiny spider will usually depart by jumping onto a nearby object.
Photo 3
In this photo you can see the spider's eyes at the side of its head. Salticides have a total of eight eyes.
Salticides also only have a flexible connection between their torso and abdomen. This allows them to turn the front half of their body when looking around.
Photo 5
Photo of the red variety. Similar eye arrangement to other Salticides, but with noticeably more hair around the facial area.
This family group of larger spiders have longer, slightly more slender bodies.
Photo 7
Front view of the hairy red variety.
Photo 2
Salticides, like most spiders, have multiple eyes. They can see forward, left, right and up all at the same time. One of their unique features are the size of their two middle eyes that are extremely large. Most likely the reason why Salticides can jump so accurately.
This photo clearly shows the four front eyes, and no, the spider is not wearing dark glasses :-)
Photo 4
It would appear that Salticides will eat anything they can catch. At least their food is always fresh!
This photo was taken rather late in the afternoon (see the long shadows) so I used a flash in-fill. Ended up with one of the best sets of classic red eyes I have ever seen.
Photo 6
Rear view of one of the dark variety of Salticides. They usually have a shorter body than all those listed above.
The spider in this photo is sitting on my straw hat. The strands of straw are typically 3 mm wide.
Photo 8
Zoomed shot showing the eye arrangement.
