Scientists attribute almost 13% of all species of spiders to the family of horses, which is part of the order of araneomorphic spiders. Among the representatives of this species, more than 550 different genera and 5000 species can be distinguished.
Characteristics of jumping spiders
Spiders belonging to the racehorse family usually have good eyesight, which is necessary for both navigation and successful hunting. With a bimodal respiratory system, they use the lungs and tracheal system.
Jumping horses live in rather diverse places - they can be found both in tropical forest thickets, and in deserts and semi-deserts, and even in the mountains. Representatives of the species Euophrys omnisuperstes, as scientists testify, were found even on the summit of Everest - this was done in 1975 by Vanless. However, racehorses can often be seen in cities, where common representatives of the species Salticus scenicus bask in the sun, hiding on stone and brick surfaces.
All jumping spiders have eight eyes, which are arranged in three rows. With the help of the largest and most movable four eyes from the first row, the horses not only recognize the shape of objects, but also get an idea of the different colors. The second row, which is located in the middle of the head, contains the two smallest eyes. The third row, which is located almost at the border of the head and chest, is formed by two rather large eyes.
Racehorses, unlike spiders of other families, are also able to climb glass and similar surfaces thanks to the extremely small hairs and claws on their legs.
Hunting features of jumping spiders
Usually, racehorses tend to hunt actively in the daytime, choosing various insects as food objects. There is an opinion that the jumpers (also known as jumping spiders) owe their name to their way of hunting. Jumping on their victims, they have to very accurately calculate the length of the jump, since the result depends on this.
These spiders have a highly developed internal hydraulic system, which gives them the unique ability to change the size of their limbs due to changes in blood pressure. This property is actively used by them during the hunt - in pursuit of prey, they jump, contracting the muscles of their body. As a result, the level of fluid pressure in their limbs increases in comparison with the body, and the legs begin to move quickly. As a result, racehorses are able to jump at distances that significantly exceed the size of their own body, due to which the family is called racers. It is interesting that, preparing to make a jump, spiders insure themselves by attaching a thread of their own web to the "starting point".
The coloring of spiders also becomes very useful during the hunt - some of the horses are painted in the same way as ants, beetles and false scorpions. Therefore, they can approach their victims closer, pretending to be completely harmless insects.
