Caleb Camilleri Photography

Jumping Spider Courtships

The courtship displays of Salticidae are seldom studied, and likely incredibly variable in nature. The two North American genera with the most courtship research are shown in this gallery (Habronattus and Phidippus), with the peacock spiders (Maratus) in Australia also garnishing a lot of attention from scientists. But, outside of these three groups, very little research has been done, and for the vast majority of species, nobody has ever formally documented a courtship or explained it’s intricacies. A treasure trove of unique dances and rituals is just waiting for someone to explore.