zookeeperfrank
New member
Hi All,
Anyone else interested in keeping or observing jumping spiders?
As a bug-hunting child, I was once startled to come upon a housefly that appeared to be walking on its hind legs. Closer inspection revealed that the unfortunate insect was being carried in a head-up position by a Jumping Spider. I was aware that a variety of these brilliantly-colored little beasts inhabited my Bronx neighborhood, and became interested in how they managed to capture such elusive prey without a web. I began reading and collecting, and was soon fascinated by their keen eyesight and cat-like stalking techniques. They would follow my finger, leap on a feathers pulled by a string, and even display to a mirrors.
I’ve recently learned that biologists are showing videos to Jumping Spiders in an attempt to learn more about their remarkable eyes (which allow for forward, backward, an sideways vision simultaneously), and that a new ant-mimicking Jumping Spider with enormous fangs has turned up in Borneo. I’ll highlight this new information below, and review their natural history and captive care.
Read article here http://bitly.com/ZP1yyg
Comments and questions appreciated. As I do not place notices here each time I post a new article on That Reptile Blog, you may wish to check in periodically or subscribe; you can do so here http://bitly.com/JJNk9h. Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.
Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp
Face Book http://on.fb.me/KckP1m
Anyone else interested in keeping or observing jumping spiders?
As a bug-hunting child, I was once startled to come upon a housefly that appeared to be walking on its hind legs. Closer inspection revealed that the unfortunate insect was being carried in a head-up position by a Jumping Spider. I was aware that a variety of these brilliantly-colored little beasts inhabited my Bronx neighborhood, and became interested in how they managed to capture such elusive prey without a web. I began reading and collecting, and was soon fascinated by their keen eyesight and cat-like stalking techniques. They would follow my finger, leap on a feathers pulled by a string, and even display to a mirrors.
I’ve recently learned that biologists are showing videos to Jumping Spiders in an attempt to learn more about their remarkable eyes (which allow for forward, backward, an sideways vision simultaneously), and that a new ant-mimicking Jumping Spider with enormous fangs has turned up in Borneo. I’ll highlight this new information below, and review their natural history and captive care.
Read article here http://bitly.com/ZP1yyg
Comments and questions appreciated. As I do not place notices here each time I post a new article on That Reptile Blog, you may wish to check in periodically or subscribe; you can do so here http://bitly.com/JJNk9h. Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.
Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp
Face Book http://on.fb.me/KckP1m