The monophyly of the family Salticidae is well established through both phylogenetic and morphological analyses. The sister group to Salticidae is the family Philodromidae. Synapomorphies of the two families include loss of cylindrical gland spigots and loss of tapeta in the indirect eyes.)

  • Lyssomaninae <small>Blackwall, 1877</small> – 4 extant genera (including Hindumanes)
  • Spartaeinae <small>Wanless, 1984</small> – 29 extant genera in 3 tribes
  • Eupoinae <small>Maddison, 2015</small> – 3 extant genera
  • Hisponinae <small>Simon, 1901</small> – 6 extant genera
  • Salticinae <small>Blackwall, 1841</small> – about 540 extant genera in 27 tribes

The relationships between these subfamilies is still up for debate. Below are the results of a 2017 phylogenomic study that attempted to resolve this question. The subfamily Eupoinae was unevaluated and its exact position is unclear.

Habitat

thumb|[[Maevia inclemens|Diamorphic jumping spider in family Salticidae on tree trunk.]]

Jumping spiders live in a variety of habitats. Tropical forests harbor the most species, but they are also found in temperate forests, scrubland, deserts, intertidal zones, and mountainous regions. Euophrys omnisuperstes is the species reported to have been collected at the highest elevation, on the slopes of Mount Everest.

Models for mimicry

Some small insects are thought to have evolved an appearance or behavioural traits that resemble those of jumping spiders and this is suspected to prevent their predation, specifically from jumping spiders. Some examples appear to be provided by patterns on the wings of some tephritid flies, the nymph of a fulgorid and possibly some moths.

Fossils

Very few jumping spider fossils have been found. Of those known, all are from Cenozoic era amber. The oldest fossils are from Baltic amber dating to the Eocene epoch, specifically, 54 to 42 million years ago. Other fossil jumping spiders have been preserved within Chiapas amber and Dominican amber.

See also

  • Peckhamia (journal)
  • Spider taxonomy

References

Further reading

  • Asian jumping spiders and photo references
  • Comprehensive resource on the morphology and taxonomy of jumping spiders (Salticidae): www.jumping-spiders.com
  • Global Species Database of Salticidae
  • Video of a jumping spider's mating behavior
  • High-Speed Photography of Jumping Spiders in Mid-air
  • PBS Be Smart Video About Jumping Spider Vision
  • Close-Up Video of Transparent Jumping Spider Captures Its Tube-Like Eyes Moving
  • World Spider Catalog
  • Jumping Spiders of NW-Europe
  • Jumping spiders of Australia
  • American Jumping Spiders – 100 Species Videos (includes introduction to salticids, predation, mating, and other behaviors)
  • Movies of Habronattus courtship behavior
  • The Australian Faunal Directory taxonomic classification of Australian salticids