Golden Jumping Spider

Paraphidippus aurantius's genus, Phidippus, abodes all across North America. Spiders within this genus are found in Mexico, the United States, and some of South America. When choosing a place to live, Paraphidippus aurantius, as well as other spiders in the Phidippus genus, seek shelter from the rain and a good viewpoint of the world around them; a leaf with a large amount of surface area can provide both of those things. Plants that they typically tend to live on are yucca, and rosette-forming plants, however, the plants may vary depending on which specific area they live in.

Paraphidippus aurantius is an active predator that preys on a variety of other animals. This species hunts both vertebrates and invertebrates, including other spiders. When attacking, P. aurantius uses a cautious approach. The typical process includes first biting to inject a paralyzing venom, jumping back and maintaining a safe distance while it takes effect, then returning to the prey when it is no longer mobile. This hunting strategy enables P. aurantius to feed on animals that are much larger than itself. Some observed instances include birds that are several times the size of P. aurantius in length, and even greater in overall mass. The spider may take an extended period of time to eat large prey before abandoning the carcass at the kill site.