Arachnid · GBIF taxon 5173245
canopy jumping spider
Phidippus otiosusAlso known as Canopy Jumper
Canopy jumping spiders are agile arboreal hunters that stalk prey among the upper foliage and tree trunks of southern forests. Their exceptional vision and powerful hind legs allow them to pounce on unsuspecting insects without using capture webs. Bright iridescent green or purple chelicerae anchor their fuzzy, mottled grey and white bodies.
ArborealHunterIridescent
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flies
- Moths
- Caterpillars
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Mud Dauber Wasps
ThreatsHabitat loss and pesticide application
HabitatsTree canopies, pine forests, oak woodlands
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilySalticidae
- GenusPhidippus
- SpeciesPhidippus otiosus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a close distance.
Responsible observation
- Patience in Canopies: Scan pine trunks and oak branches carefully to spot individuals blending into the bark.
- Approach Slowly: Move hands or equipment gently so their keen anterior eyes can track your movement without fleeing.
- Avoid Pinching: Allow spiders to walk freely across open palms without squeezing or trapping them.
Tree Neighbor (c) Kevincollins123, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Michael K. Oliver, Ph.D., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael K. Oliver, Ph.D. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Zygy · cc0
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