Spiders vision science: every measurement
The vision values of all 6 spiders on this site, one row each, with the evidence level of every value and the studies behind it. Species with enough measured values also have their own science page.
Who sees best among spiders?
Fastest eyes
- 1You60 Hz flicker fusion Measured
- 2Jumping spider (Maevia inclemens)40 Hz flicker fusion Measured
- 3Wolf spider (Lycosa baltimoriana)10 Hz flicker fusion Measured
- 4Wolf spider (Lycosa beihaiensis)10 Hz flicker fusion Measured
- 5Tiger wandering spider6.5 Hz flicker fusion Measured
Measured values by dial
| Dial | Species with a measured value |
|---|---|
| Colour | 2 |
| Sharpness | 1 |
| Field of view | 0 |
| Sharp zones (foveas) | 1 |
| Night vision | 2 |
| Motion (flicker fusion) | 4 |
All spiders, value by value
Evidence levels: how the tiers work. Studies: sources.
| Species | Colour | Sharpness | Field of view | Sharp zones (foveas) | Night vision | Motion (flicker fusion) | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumping spider (Maevia inclemens) Maevia inclemens | 4 receptor classes: 360 nm (UVS), 490 nm (MWS (green)), 534 nm (MWS (green)), 580 nm (LWS (long)) Estimated yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet Estimated | 12 cycles per degree Group default | - | 1 Estimated principal eyes: tiered retina (layer 1 = fovea-like) Estimated | diurnal Estimated no rods (invertebrate photoreceptors) Estimated | 40 Hz Measured | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, species_v1:Williams & McIntyre 1980, inger2014_tbl3 |
| Jumping spider (Menemerus fulvus) Menemerus fulvus | 4 receptor classes: 360 nm (UVS), 490 nm (MWS (green)), 534 nm (MWS (green)), 580 nm (LWS (long)) Measured yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet Measured | 12 cycles per degree Group default | - | 1 Estimated principal eyes: tiered retina (layer 1 = fovea-like) Estimated | diurnal Measured no rods (invertebrate photoreceptors) Derived | 40 Hz Estimated | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, species_v1:Williams & McIntyre 1980, inger2014_tbl3 |
| Portia jumping spider Portia fimbriata | 4 receptor classes: 360 nm (UVS), 490 nm (MWS (green)), 534 nm (MWS (green)), 580 nm (LWS (long)) Estimated yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet Estimated | 12 cycles per degree Measured (not re-verified) | - | 1 Measured (not re-verified) principal eyes: tiered retina (layer 1 = fovea-like) Measured (not re-verified) | diurnal Estimated no rods (invertebrate photoreceptors) Estimated | 40 Hz Estimated | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, species_v1:Williams & McIntyre 1980, inger2014_tbl3 |
| Tiger wandering spider science page Cupiennius salei | 3 receptor classes: 340 nm (UVS), 480 nm (MWS (green)), 520 nm (MWS (green)) Measured yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet Measured | 12 cycles per degree Group default | - | 1 Group default principal eyes: tiered retina (layer 1 = fovea-like) Group default | nocturnal Measured no rods (invertebrate photoreceptors) Derived | 6.5 Hz Measured | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, species_v1:Williams & McIntyre 1980, lafitte2022_s10 |
| Wolf spider (Lycosa baltimoriana) Lycosa baltimoriana | 4 receptor classes: 360 nm (UVS), 490 nm (MWS (green)), 534 nm (MWS (green)), 580 nm (LWS (long)) Group default yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet Group default | 12 cycles per degree Group default | - | 1 Group default principal eyes: tiered retina (layer 1 = fovea-like) Group default | diurnal Group default no rods (invertebrate photoreceptors) Group default | 10 Hz Measured | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, species_v1:Williams & McIntyre 1980, inger2014_tbl3 |
| Wolf spider (Lycosa beihaiensis) Lycosa beihaiensis | 4 receptor classes: 360 nm (UVS), 490 nm (MWS (green)), 534 nm (MWS (green)), 580 nm (LWS (long)) Group default yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet Group default | 12 cycles per degree Group default | - | 1 Group default principal eyes: tiered retina (layer 1 = fovea-like) Group default | diurnal Group default no rods (invertebrate photoreceptors) Group default | 10 Hz Measured | longcore2023_photopigments_v1.1, species_v1:Williams & McIntyre 1980, haarlem2026_figshare |
Method: how we know what animals see. Accuracy: the census.