- Southern Arizona is home to a diverse and fascinating population of jumping spiders (family Salticidae), thriving everywhere from low-desert landscapes like Tucson to the high-elevation mountain habitats known as "sky islands" - These spiders are highly intelligent, incredibly active during the day, and completely harmless to humans - The Emerald / Golden Jumping Spider (Paraphidippus Aurantius) is a flashy, eye-catching species covered in shiny, iridescent golden-green scales ... they love bright sunlight and are most often spotted foraging on low shrubs and desert bushes - The Emerald Jumping Spider has eight eyes split into four pairs: four on the front of its face and four smaller ones on top of its head - They are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length