[jcims]

Next time you see a jumping spider, interact with it. Try to coax it to you with slow repetitive movements. Get close to it. Tap and wiggle your fingers gently. You'll likely find that they come to you. They seem to be curious on a different level than any other spider that I've interacted with (which are all garden-variety spiders in north america). They do tend to freak out if you try to take their picture with a multi-lens phone camera...presumably because it looks like a set of robot spider eyes looking at them.

[nomel]

They're one of the only insects that show hunting behavior, as in pattern recognition and path planning [1], with brains so large that their esophagus has to go through it, to fit, with one of the largest brain to body rations of any animal. And, they dance [2]!

Easily my favorite little critter.

1. https://roundglasssustain.com/species/portia-spiders

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qkzwG2lLPc

[mkl]

> They're one of the only insects

They're not insects at all. They're spiders.

Edit: Here's an evolutionary tree: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthropod#Evolutionary_history.... Insects are a group under "Hexapods", and are more closely related to crabs, lobsters, shrimp, centipedes, and millipedes (none of which are insects) than they are to spiders, which are under "Chelicerates".

[apantel]

I’m pretty sure my esophagus goes through my brain too… the way I think about food…

Edit: I can also jump!

[nomel]

Yes, but does your esophagus get pulled out every time you shed? I think not!

And, you have simple fixed zoom balls for eyes, where they have muscles that point little telescopes [3], that pivot at the eye hole, each with two lenses, allowing control of focus and magnification.

3. https://www.wired.com/2014/04/spider-vision-made-clear/

[Espressosaurus]

Some additional True Facts about jumping spiders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxM_cag99nU

[wisemang]

“He must mesmerize… or die!”

Crazy video thanks for that.

[chairhairair]

The spiders are reacting the the infrared light used to focus the phone camera.