MadSci Network: Zoology |
I assume you're referring to the "tarantula", the spider commonly sold in pet stores and kept in a terrarium on a diet of crickets. No, tarantulas do not jump any significant distance, at least the ground-dwelling species most commonly sold in pet stores. They "pounce" on their prey as they capture it prior to feeding. In fact, the common pet species will easily break open or break off appendages if dropped even a few inches. There are some tree-dwelling tarantulas that are faster moving and may jump short distances, but they are less-commonly encountered in the pet trade.
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Zoology.