Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa, female)

Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa, female)

Truly striking are the four forward facing eyes. Another four smaller eyes are located at the sides and on top of the head. Together, these 8 eyes provide a 360 degree view. The 8 eyes also allow the spiders to see a massive amount of detail, despite their tiny size. Additionally, the spiders’ retinas can swivel on their own, allowing the spider to look around without moving its head.

By the way: Spider eyes are different from insect eyes; they are not compound but simple. There is one lens for each eye, made of a thin layer of the cuticle. Below that is the retina, the actual light-detecting cells.

For more information about spider eyes I recommend the article ‘Spider Vision Made Clear‘.

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