Fun Nyssus Coloripe Facts For Kids

Shivangi Pandey
Oct 20, 2022 By Shivangi Pandey
Originally Published on Sep 03, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi
Read these awesome Nyssus coloripe facts.


The orange-legged swift spider, Nyssus coloripes, is a type of ground-dwelling spider that physically overpowers its victim rather than utilizing a web. Many mimic the behavior of ants and wasps.

Vivid contrasting markings allow them to be active throughout the day with less risk of predation. They are often exceptionally quick runners who can travel at high speeds in short spurts.

The orange-legged swift spider (Nyssus coloripes) is a tiny spider that lives in Australia and New Zealand. It is frequently spotted hunting on open terrain.

The spotted ground swift spider is a hunter, and it is fast and difficult to catch. The spotted ground swift spider is capable of running vertically up glass.

The orange front legs of this spider, as well as the prominent white markings on its back and rear legs, help to identify it. The spotted ground swift spider walks on three pairs of legs at times, swinging its front orange legs like an antenna.

The spotted ground swift spider is supposed to be imitating wasps or, in Australia, the gum tree shield bug nymph. The spotted ground swift spider was discovered in New Zealand in 1943 and is now often seen in gardens and around houses in dry places.

You can also check out our yellow sac spider facts and the Brazilian wandering spider facts too.

Nyssus Coloripe Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Nyssus coloripe?

The orange-legged swift spider is classified as an arachnid, along with mites, ticks, and scorpions. Arachnids are creatures that have eight legs, two body sections, no antennae or wings, and cannot chew on food. Spotted ground swift spiders are not insects since insects have three major body components and six legs, and the majority of insects have wings.

What class of animal does a Nyssus coloripe belong to?

The orange-legged swift spider (painted swift spider) is a part of a broader group of animals known as arthropods, which are invertebrates belonging to the phylum Arthropoda. They have the most distribution in the animal kingdom, accounting for around 80% of all creatures. Nyssus coloripes belong to the Corrinidae family. They are identified by their orange-colored front legs.

How many Nyssus coloripes are there in the world?

The spotted ground swift spider's exact population is not known.

Where does a Nyssus coloripe live?

The spotted ground swift spider (painted swift spider) is found on a variety of outdoor surfaces, such as open ground, leaf litter, tree trunks, exposed rocks, and fences.

What is a Nyssus coloripe's habitat?

In dry habitats, the spotted ground swift spider can be found in gardens and around dwellings. It can also live in open terrain with short grass.

It creates a haven with a few strands of silk hidden beneath bark or other things. Females construct a flat disk-like egg-sac on a level surface. Australia and New Zealand are home to the orange-legged swift spider (painted swift spider).

It arrived in New Zealand in 1943 and has now been totally naturalized. It is often seen inside dwellings and on short grassland in New Zealand.

Who does Nyssus coloripe live with?

The spotted ground swift spider lives alone as its behavior is not social.

How long does a Nyssus coloripe live?

The average lifespan of the spotted ground swift spider ranges from three to four years.

How do they reproduce?

Nyssus coloripes (painted swift spider) reproduce sexually, however, the male's sperm does not enter the female's body through the male's genitals. Rather, an intermediate step occurs.

Nyssus coloripes transport their sperm to syringe-like structures on the ends of their front appendages, or palps. As the male painted swift spider's courting continues, he will arch his back and slink on tiptoes toward the female.

Males live a nomadic existence, searching for females under leaf litter, under logs or rocks, or even indoors, roaming around the floor. Nyssus coloripe females, on the other hand, have seldom been seen outside of their burrows.

They build a flat, white, disc-shaped egg-sac of 0.19-0.23 in (5-6 mm) in fall and winter. The oval egg sacs are papery in texture and may house up to 50 eggs.

What is their conservation status?

Nyssus coloripes' conservation status has not been evaluated yet.

Nyssus Coloripe Fun Facts

What does the Nyssus coloripe look like?

Nyssus coloripes are primarily black in color, with white spots on their bodies. The front legs are black with orange ends, while the remainder of their legs is black. Their head is black with white stripes along the side, while the upper body has white or yellow markings. Its back legs also have white spots.

How cute are they?

They are not cute in the least. A painted swift spider (fleet-footed spider) is a strange-looking species. Controlling these pests once they've settled in your home might be tough. Because of their appearance, Nyssus coloripes frighten many people.

How do they communicate?

Nyssus coloripes are active during the day. Fleet-footed spiders frequently hunt animals without using webs, however, they may use webs to identify their prey.

Pheromones are used by ground spiders to communicate with one another. Depending on the message they wish to communicate, ground spiders emit pheromones into the air, soil, water, or any other environment. Other ground spiders can detect those pheromones.

Another way for them to communicate is to leave a trail of silk on the ground in their habitats. Each spider's silk is the same, but they remember where they leave their silk so they don't get confused about whether it's their own silk or the message of another ground spider.

How big is a Nyssus coloripe?

A painted swift spider (fleet-footed spider) is usually 0.23-0.27 in (6-7 mm) long. Their legs can be up to 1.1 in (3 cm).

How fast can a Nyssus coloripe move?

Because painted swift spiders sprint in brief bursts of speed with their front legs, they are difficult to capture. The trembling movement of their colored legs is similar to that of a wasp.

How much does a Nyssus coloripe weigh?

There is no information available about the weight of the fleet-footed spider species.

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male and female ground Nyssus coloripes are not given sex-specific names.

What would you call a baby Nyssus coloripe?

A baby spider is called a spiderling.

What do they eat?

This species feeds on insects like flies and mosquitoes as well as other spiders. Nyssus coloripes (fleet-footed spider) are active during the day.

They frequently hunt animals without using webs, however, they may use webs to identify prey. A spotted ground spiders' stomachs can only hold liquids, they must liquefy their food before eating. This species bite their prey and empty its stomach juices into the prey, transforming it into a soup that they may consume.

Are they dangerous?

Nyssus coloripes' deadly bites have not been recorded, but there have been cases where the symptoms have been mild, consisting of a red welt and a localized burning sensation for a couple of hours. It might seem that Nyssus coloripes are venomous in nature but in actuality, they are not that hazardous.

Wandering males commonly invade residences at night, and their vivid colors can be frightening.

Males have distinctive club-shaped palps that may appear rather menacing when held aloft. Despite the size of their fangs, Nyssus coloripes bites are not deadly and these spider species are hesitant to strike and fearful when approached.

Would they make a good pet?

A ground spider species would not make an ideal pet. It is a tiny and frightening spider that bites. A fleet-footed spider can get into your cupboards and ruin your clothes. They are so tiny that if they got loose in the house, you will have a hard time finding them.

Did you know...

The brains of spotted ground swift spiders (fleet-footed spider) are enormous.

The oxygen is linked to hemocyanin, a copper-based protein that colors the spotted ground spider's blood blue, a molecule that includes copper rather than iron. The presence of iron-based hemoglobin in red blood cells causes the blood to become red.

Are Nyssus coloripes poisonous?

No, neither people nor animals are poisoned by ground swift spiders (fleet-footed spiders). Their bites or touch can cause mild edema, but nothing major.

Nyssus coloripe bite?

They can bite but are not venomous. Bites from them can produce moderate local discomfort, redness, and edema.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these American house spider facts and tarantula spider facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our free printable southern house spider coloring pages.

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Written by Shivangi Pandey

Bachelor of Fashion Technology specializing in Fashion Merchandising

Shivangi Pandey picture

Shivangi PandeyBachelor of Fashion Technology specializing in Fashion Merchandising

Shivangi is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Technology from the National Institute of Fashion Technology. She has a strong passion for the English language and communication, with a keen interest in fashion blogging. Shivangi's educational background and interests complement her ability to create engaging and informative content for readers.

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Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi

Postgraduate Diploma in Management

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Sakshi RaturiPostgraduate Diploma in Management

Sakshi has experience in marketing strategy, social media planning, and recruiting industry experts for capstone projects, she has displayed a commitment to enhancing their skills and knowledge. She has won multiple awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation for Creative Writing and a Certificate of Merit for Immaculate Turut, and is always seeking new opportunities to grow and develop.

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