CLOSED: Need help identifying spider

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bicman Arab, AL Jun 08, 2010

Can anyone tell me what kind of spider this is? Just from looking through a few pictures online, it sort of resembles some jumping spiders. He did seem to jump around a lot (usually at the camera! He was quite aggressive) while I was trying to take photos of him, if that means anything to anyone. He was about the size of a dime or smaller, including legspan. Also, is he poisonous? I was bitten on the finger by something while flipping on a light switch and saw this little guy running away when I looked back to try to identify what it was. Felt like a wasp sting. It was swollen and tender for several days. Thanks for any help!

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jun 08, 2010

This is indeed a jumping spider (family Salticidae). Although it bears some resemblance to the dimorphic jumping spider (Maevia inclemens) - see http://tinyurl.com/259o2qw for an image - I am not 100% confident that it is that exact same species. They are not aggressive per se, but will exhibit defensive behavior if threatened. Some also exhibit what I can only call curiosity; I've had to 'shoo' some away that were persistent in creeping up to see what I was doing in the garden, and I was afraid that I might accidentally goosh them.
With very few exceptions (tiny orb weavers in the family Uloboridae), all spiders are venomous; but in the vast majority of cases, bites are of no real consequence. However, as with bee/wasp venoms, some individuals may react more severely than others, and may even experience general systemic reactions such as fever, malaise, stomach cramps, and nausea.

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MaypopLaurel Cleveland,GA/Atlanta, GA(Zone 7b) Jun 08, 2010

I had so much fun watching a jumping spider in the garden last week. More accurate to say we were watching each other. As I moved forward, it did too as if to greet me. When I bent down to examine it more closely I could see it twisting its head to look right at me. It was actually staring at me and I could look right into its eyes. When I stepped back to resume work in the garden it came forward a bit more and hung around to keep me company. :)

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bicman Arab, AL Jun 08, 2010

Very informative. Thanks so much for your help!

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