Spider profile

Jumping Spider (Salticidae)

Salticidae

Database risk label: LOW
Location: All of Australia
Database size: 5-15mm

Jumping spider is the common name used here for Salticidae, a family of spiders rather than one single species. That distinction matters. Australia has many different salticids, and a sighting identified only as a jumping spider cannot reliably be assigned a species, sex, life stage, colour pattern, precise habitat or local conservation status. CSIRO reports 339 described Australian salticid species and says a further 1,000 may be present, while work to describe Australian genera and species continues. [1]

This page therefore describes family-level traits only. A jumping spider is an arachnid in the order Araneae; Salticidae is its family name. The family is often recognised for its prominent front eyes, alert daytime activity and short, deliberate jumps, but none of these signs alone proves the identification. [2] [3]

Identification: useful clues, not a species diagnosis

Australian jumping spiders are generally small. The Museums Victoria family profile gives a body-length range of 2–15 mm, while the Australian Museum lists 3–12 mm; together, those family summaries show why size is only a broad guide and should not be used to name a species. [2] [3]

The most useful visual clue is the eyes. Salticids have eight eyes arranged in three or four rows, with the front middle pair clearly the largest. They also have stout legs, two claws at the tips of the legs and claw tufts. [2] From close observation, a spider may appear to turn towards movement because jumping spiders use very good vision when hunting. [1] [3]

Appearance varies widely across the family. Some Australian members are colourful; males in some groups can have more striking colours, patterns or hair tufts than females. The Australian Museum describes elaborate male courtship in the genus Maratus, but that is an example within the family, not a feature that every jumping spider will show. [3] A small spider that jumps, or has conspicuous eyes, should therefore be treated as a possible Salticidae rather than identified with certainty from one feature or photograph.

Australian range and habitat

Jumping spiders occur Australia-wide. Museums Victoria describes the family’s distribution as mainland Australia and Tasmania, and the Australian Museum likewise gives an Australia-wide distribution. [2] [3] At family scale, however, this does not mean every salticid species occurs in every state or habitat.

CSIRO says salticids occur in terrestrial and arboreal habitats throughout Australia, with especially high endemicity in central and western parts of the continent. [1] Around homes and gardens, the Museums Victoria profile lists places on and under bark or rocks, in vegetation, and on walls of houses and fences. [2] Sunny vegetation is also a useful place to notice active individuals: the Australian Museum says jumping spiders are diurnal and can usually be found on many kinds of vegetation on sunny days. [3]

Australia-wide does not equal evenly distributed. A peer-reviewed Australian analysis of selected salticid genera found that predicted diversity varied by region and noted that dry inland fauna remained incompletely known. [4] That research is a reminder to avoid turning a family-level record into a precise local range map or assuming a specimen from one area represents all Australian jumping spiders.

Behaviour and ecology

Salticids are active visual hunters rather than spiders that depend on a prey-catching web. They use their vision to track, stalk and judge distance before jumping, with strong back legs providing the propulsion. [3] Museums Victoria records them as hunters of insects and other invertebrates, and notes that they can jump several centimetres to catch prey. [2]

Silk is still important to their lives. The family profile says jumping spiders build a silk retreat for resting, moulting and protecting an egg sac. [2] This means a patch of silk associated with a jumping spider does not automatically indicate a capture web. It also explains why an animal seen stationary in a crevice or on vegetation may be using shelter rather than waiting in a large web.

The ecology is varied within Salticidae. CSIRO notes that some Australian salticids mimic ants, beetles or flies, and that some species may supplement their diet with nectar. [1] These are documented possibilities within a diverse family, not a claim about every jumping spider. At the same scale, daylight hunting and excellent vision are well-supported family traits, while exact prey, mimicry and courtship depend on the species. [1] [3]

Safer encounters around homes and gardens

A jumping spider spotted on vegetation, bark, a fence or an outside wall can usually be observed from a respectful distance. Do not touch it or encourage a child to touch any spider. Healthdirect recommends leaving spiders alone and teaching children not to touch them; it also advises gloves for gardening and checking shoes before putting them on. [5]

Avoid relying on colour, a jump, or an online image to make a medical decision. Salticidae is a large family, and the safest practical approach is to avoid direct contact with any unidentified spider. This is an observation-and-distance approach, not a need to capture, handle, feed or move the animal.

The record’s LOW risk label is consistent with the family-level evidence available here: Museums Victoria describes jumping spiders as timid, says they rarely bite, and notes that a bite may cause a local reaction such as redness, swelling, burning or itching. [2] This label is not a substitute for care if symptoms are concerning or the spider was not confidently identified.

If a bite is suspected

For a suspected bite from a jumping spider or another spider not thought to be a funnel-web or mouse spider, Healthdirect advises washing the area with soap and water, applying antiseptic cream if available, and using a wrapped ice pack to reduce swelling and pain. It also lists paracetamol or ibuprofen as pain-relief options. [5] Seek medical care if there is a lot of pain, the bite does not settle within a few hours, swelling or itching worsens after 24–48 hours, or you are worried. [5]

Pressure-immobilisation bandaging is not the response described for a suspected jumping-spider bite: Healthdirect limits that treatment to funnel-web or mouse-spider bites. [5] Call Triple Zero (000) for signs of anaphylaxis, including difficult or noisy breathing, swelling or tightness in the throat, a swollen tongue, collapse, or a child becoming pale and floppy. [5]

Frequently asked questions

Is a jumping spider one species?

No. In this record, Jumping Spider refers to the spider family Salticidae. Australia contains many salticid species, including undescribed diversity, so this profile does not represent one named species. [1] [2]

Where are jumping spiders found in Australia?

At family level, they are recorded across mainland Australia and Tasmania. They occupy terrestrial and arboreal habitats and may be seen on vegetation, bark, rocks, fences and house walls. Individual species have narrower distributions and habitat preferences. [1] [2] [3]

What are the best clues that a spider may be a jumping spider?

Look for a small, active spider with unusually prominent forward-facing middle eyes and short jumping movement. These are helpful family clues, but they are not enough to confirm a species or guarantee an identification. [2] [3]

Do jumping spiders make webs?

They hunt actively, rather than using a prey-catching web, but they do make silk retreats for resting, moulting and protecting egg sacs. [2]

Are jumping spiders dangerous to people?

Museums Victoria describes the family as timid and rarely biting, with local redness, swelling, burning or itching possible if a bite occurs. For any concerning symptoms or uncertain spider bite, use Healthdirect’s Australian guidance and seek care as directed. [2] [5]

References

Last reviewed: 21 October 2026. This is general information, not a substitute for medical care.