The fringed jumping spider of the jumping spider family is native to Southeast Asia and Australia. Like most other members of the Portia genus, these spiders are also known for their versatile hunting techniques.
Size: Females are 0.26 – 0.41 inches (0.66 – 1.0 cm) while males are 0.20 – 0.25 inches (0.50 – 0.63 cm) .
Color: The males and females are closely similar when it comes to coloration. They have a dark brown carapace, with reddish-brown fangs. Their undersides and palps appear brown with white hairs on the latter. The abdomen is also dark brown, marked with spots of white.
A change in coloration is observed in spiders from Indonesia and New Guinea, which have an orangish-brown carapace, and a yellow abdomen.
Other Characteristic Features: The male and female spiders have long legs with a fringed pattern, resulting in their name.
They usually lay eggs either on dry, brown leaves, 2cm long, or even on silken sacs located on the horizontal web that is a part of the main web.
Many eggs are eaten by the mother itself so not all of them make it to adulthood. Those who hatch and survive, reach the adulthood stage through several molting phases.
Female spiders build webs sizing 4,000 cubic cm (volume-wise), suspended from rocks or branches.
The fringed jumping spider is not venomous, but its bite can cause swelling, and redness, particularly in people allergic to spiders.
| Distribution | Australia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka |
| Habitat | Rainforests and savanna woodlands |
| Diet | Small insects, eggs of other spiders |
| Web Type | Funnel-shaped |
| Predators | Frogs, mantises, birds, and ants |
| Lifespan | Around 1.5 years |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
Image Credits: Live.staticflickr.com, Media.bowerbird.org.au
The fringed jumping spider of the jumping spider family is native to Southeast Asia and Australia. Like most other members of the Portia genus, these spiders are also known for their versatile hunting techniques.
Size: Females are 0.26 – 0.41 inches (0.66 – 1.0 cm) while males are 0.20 – 0.25 inches (0.50 – 0.63 cm) .
Color: The males and females are closely similar when it comes to coloration. They have a dark brown carapace, with reddish-brown fangs. Their undersides and palps appear brown with white hairs on the latter. The abdomen is also dark brown, marked with spots of white.
A change in coloration is observed in spiders from Indonesia and New Guinea, which have an orangish-brown carapace, and a yellow abdomen.
Other Characteristic Features: The male and female spiders have long legs with a fringed pattern, resulting in their name.
They usually lay eggs either on dry, brown leaves, 2cm long, or even on silken sacs located on the horizontal web that is a part of the main web.
Many eggs are eaten by the mother itself so not all of them make it to adulthood. Those who hatch and survive, reach the adulthood stage through several molting phases.
Female spiders build webs sizing 4,000 cubic cm (volume-wise), suspended from rocks or branches.
The fringed jumping spider is not venomous, but its bite can cause swelling, and redness, particularly in people allergic to spiders.
| Distribution | Australia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka |
| Habitat | Rainforests and savanna woodlands |
| Diet | Small insects, eggs of other spiders |
| Web Type | Funnel-shaped |
| Predators | Frogs, mantises, birds, and ants |
| Lifespan | Around 1.5 years |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
Image Credits: Live.staticflickr.com, Media.bowerbird.org.au
