Red-and-White Ornamented Jumping Spider

Description

Habronattus americanus is a species of jumping spiders from the family Salticidae. The female spider is brown and gray, with a small color range.The male spider is black coloured from top, and the male's pedipalp is red, along with parts of the legs. The red color is used to attract female mates with courtship displays. This species lives in western North America, ranging from British Columbia, Canada, in the north to California, United States, in the south. It ranges from the coast into Alberta and Montana. It may reach further, but current knowledge is based only on reported sightings. Habronattus is a genus in the family Salticidae (jumping spiders). Most species are native to North America. They are commonly referred to as paradise spiders due to their colorful courtship ornaments and complex dances, similar to birds-of-paradise.