Black-headed Jumping Spider Trite planiceps

New Zealand is a jumping spider hotspot, home to around 150 species, and this black-headed jumping spider is one of the most common. Jumping spiders are radically different from most arachnids—they're curious, intelligent, and possess exceptional vision that rivals many vertebrates. These spiders can leap up to 50 times their own body length to hunt or escape danger, making them formidable micro-predators. Endemic to New Zealand, this species represents a unique evolutionary branch of the jumping spider family. Watching one hunt is watching a tiny dancer on an invisible stage.