As durable as we humans think we are, we’ve got nothing on Euophrys omnisuperstes, aka the Himalayan jumping spider. The species name means standing above everything, and for good reason: this little hardy creature is most likely the highest known permanent resident on Earth (4.1 miles above sea level).
E. omnisuperstes occupy crevices among rocky debris, surviving long periods without food and in sub-freezing temperatures. They also don’t seem to mind the serious lack of atmospheric pressure and oxygen. The only sources of nutrition available to them are tiny stray springtails and flies that are occasionally blown up the mountainside by the wind.
Pretty impeccable survival credentials.
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Something cool.
Check out this video of a Himalyan jumping spider catching prey.
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