This Spider’s Superpowers Rival Any Marvel Character

Quick Take

• Portia spiders are tiny creatures, yet they can close distances that should be physically impossible for something their size. The secret lies in a built-in mechanism. See the hydraulic system →
• Eight eyes sound like overkill, yet each set serves a radically different purpose that makes Portia nearly impossible to sneak up on. Explore how each eye works →
• Portia doesn't just hunt other spiders. It hunts ones bigger and more venomous than itself, using a strategy that exploits the prey's own instincts against it. See how Portia hunts spiders →
• Before attacking, Portia pauses, and that deliberate hesitation is actually its most dangerous weapon. Discover the waiting strategy →

Portia spiders are endowed with some incredible superpowers. Their hunting skills are as ferocious as those of animals many times their size. You can see one in action in this wonderful YouTube clip.

How Can Jumping Spiders Jump So Far?

Portia is actually the name of a genus of jumping spiders. They are arachnophagic which means that they feed on other spiders! There are about 20 different species, and they are found in countries as diverse as Australia, Malaysia, China, and Africa.

These spiders are not that big, less than ¼ inch long, but they can jump 50 times their body length. They do this using a kind of internal hydraulic system that extends their legs by altering the pressure of internal body fluid in a split-second.

Locating Prey

Portia spiders also have incredible eyesight. They have eight eyes altogether, with three pairs positioned along the sides of their cephalothorax. This eye placement gives them an almost 360-degree view of their surroundings, allowing them to easily detect movement. The remaining two eyes are forward-facing and are adapted for color vision.

Hunting for prey amongst dense vegetation is not easy, but their vision is discerning enough to pick out a meal against a background of leaves. They target other spiders sitting in their webs, but some of those spiders are big and venomous!

How Do Jumping Spiders Hunt?

After finding suitable prey, Portia spiders take time to pick the best ambush strategy. They may lower themselves down on a thread of silk and then attack. With the element of surprise and out of reach of the victim’s fangs, the jumping spider can overcome a spider much larger than they are.  

If surprise attack from above is not an option, these intelligent spiders have an alternative plan. Portia can make different types of vibrations on the victim’s web that mimic those of a trapped insect or even a courtship signal from a potential mate. The hapless prey, hopeful of a meal or a romantic liaison, moves over to where Portia is waiting. Then, with an astonishing spring, the jumping spider launches itself powerfully at the prey, fangs outstretched, taking them completely by surprise and overpowering them.