Green jumping spider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green jumping spider |
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| Mopsus mormon female from the Kimberley region of Western Australia | |
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| Mopsus mormon male from Queensland, Australia. The 'whiskers' and 'topknot' are visible. | |
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The green jumping spider, also known as Mopsus mormon, is a fascinating spider found in Australia and New Guinea. It belongs to the jumping spider family, Salticidae. This spider is the only known species in its group, called the Mopsus genus.
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Meet the Green Jumping Spider!
The green jumping spider is one of Australia's bigger jumping spiders. Females can grow up to 12 millimeters long. You can often find them in Queensland, but they also live in New Guinea, northern New South Wales, the Northern Territory, northern Tasmania, and Western Australia.
What Do They Look Like?
Male green jumping spiders are very colorful. They have long, white "side whiskers" that stick up. On top of their head, they have a "topknot" of black hairs.
Female spiders look a bit different. They do not have the whiskers or the topknot. Instead, they have a special red and white "mask" on their face.
Amazing Spider Moves!
Green jumping spiders have very interesting ways of acting. They perform complex displays, especially when they are looking for a mate. These displays are like a special dance or set of signals.
How They Find a Mate
The way a male spider tries to attract a female depends on where she is.
- If the female is away from her nest, the male will do a courtship dance. This is similar to what many other spider species do.
- If the female is inside her nest, the male's approach changes. He might gently tap or probe the nest. This type of courtship does not seem to rely on seeing each other.
Living Together
Like many other jumping spiders, the adult male might live near a younger female. He will wait in a nearby nest until she grows up. Once she is fully grown, they will mate inside her nest.
