Jumping spiders show remarkable cognitive abilities and welfare considerations are increasingly relevant to research using these intelligent arachnids.
Jumping spiders in research show behavioral indicators of stress including reduced activity and altered prey capture in suboptimal conditions. Their cognitive complexity suggests that laboratory conditions without appropriate environmental enrichment may cause welfare deficits. As the most studied cognitively complex spiders, they raise the question of whether arachnid welfare deserves formal consideration in research protocols. The precautionary principle suggests housing and handling practices should minimize potential suffering.