Classification

Domain: Eukarya

This domain consists of organisms that have cells containing a nucleus and membrane bound organelles. Bacteria and Archaea domains are prokaryotes, without nuclei.

Kingdom: Animalia

This kingdom consists of organisms with reproductive cells that have one reproductive flagella. Also, lack cell walls, are multicellular, and heterotrophic.

Phylum: Arthopoda

This phylum is the most diverse and abundant phylum of animals. About 2 to 10 million species are classified as Arthopoda. All organisms have an exoskeleton made of chitin. They also have jointed appendages, and are coelomate, or an open circulatory system.

Class: Arachnid

About 75,000 species are classified as Arachnids, most being spiders. Arachnids are usually carnivorous, preying on insects, and are terrestrial. They contain four sets of legs and lack wings and antennae.

Order: Araneae

Organisms in the Araneae order prey on other organisms, usually insects. Most have eight simple eyes, but some have less or none at all. All spiders can make silk allowing them to spin a long strand of silk behind them.

Family: Salticidae

This is considered the jumping spider family. This family contains more than 500 genera and about 5000 species making it the most diverse family of spiders, containing about 13% of all species. Jumping spiders have the best vision among invertebrates. Most species are capable of very agile jumps either for hunting, or in response to sudden threats. They use both their book lungs and tracheal system for respiration. All jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes, with large median eyes.



Genus: Phidippus

Phidippus' subfamily is dendryphantinae. The genus Phidippus contains some of the largest species of jumping spiders. Many have bright iridescent  chelicerae. Phidippus is distributed almost exclusively in North America. There about 60 species in this genus.

Species: Phidippus audax

These species are common in North America but have been introduced to Hawaii and the Nicobar islands. Often these species are referred to as the daring, or bold, jumping spider. The chelicerae of the species is often metallic green or blue (if you look at the heading picture its easy to spot what it is). This species is black, and their abdomen is striped and contains a patter of spots. These spots are orange in juveniles, as the spider matures they turn white.

Well that's pretty cool! I bet you'd love to know if you'll find these guys outside your front door, right? Well here is a little about where they live.