Cardinal Jumper
Phidippus cardinalis
This record describes Phidippus cardinalis (species). Recorded family: Salticidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Male/Female Palp Epigynum Male P. cardinalis can be distinguished from male P. apacheanus by the lack of the shiny, green chelicerae found in the latter. See images of faces below ( P. cardinalis/P. apacheanus ):
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)
- Genus
- Phidippus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Connecticut south to Florida west to Illinois and Colorado and south to New Mexico and Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Food
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: cardinalis presumably refers to cardinal red, an allusion to the dorsal color.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Phidippus cardinalis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Cardinal Jumper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck , cheins , Chuck Entz , Dick Walton , kschnei
Frequently Asked Questions About Cardinal Jumper
What is Cardinal Jumper?
Cardinal Jumper (Phidippus cardinalis) is a species in the family Salticidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Cardinal Jumper?
Male/Female Palp Epigynum Male P. cardinalis can be distinguished from male P. apacheanus by the lack of the shiny, green chelicerae found in the latter. See images of faces below ( P. cardinalis/P. apacheanus ):
Where is Cardinal Jumper found?
Range: Connecticut south to Florida west to Illinois and Colorado and south to New Mexico and Texas.
What does Cardinal Jumper eat?
The diet of the Cardinal Jumper includes Food.