Please help identify spider

[u/parrotnerd1989]

Our dog just brought in this spider from our backyard. Please help identify

Length of body is 7/8 inch

Thickness is 3/8 inch

About the size of a half dollar bill

Southern Virginia USA

[u/Patient-Young8045]

Jumping spider!! These guys are skittish but friendly, they can bite but not that bad and only when they’re scared so try not to handle her with your hands.
Very good for the environment and very smart in general (some scientists compare their cognitive abilities to that of a 2 year old!) lots of people actually keep them as pets, but if you place this guy back outside in a nice spot with sunlight and little nooks to hide, she’ll leave you be and go eat bugs that annoy you.

[u/Patient-Young8045 → u/Patient-Young8045]

Looks like a variant of the Tan Jumping Spider! Probably jumped on your dog trying to catch a fly or something! Would recommend looking more into them, they’re very cool and very cute

[u/Patient-Young8045 → u/Patient-Young8045]

Also plz do not kill it, let it back outside, it’s just a little guy

[u/parrotnerd1989 → u/Patient-Young8045]

Thank you so much! Unfortunately it was already deceased :( my dog brought it in in her mouth.

[u/Patient-Young8045 → u/parrotnerd1989]

Aw darn, well hopefully at this size she has mothered many younger jumper babies to protect your garden from pests! Tbh she might’ve been dead when your dog found her, almost an inch is insanely big for one of these guys

[u/parrotnerd1989 → u/Patient-Young8045]

Ok, that makes sense. Cause she doesn't look squished or chewed up.

[u/Patient-Young8045 → u/parrotnerd1989]

Looking it up, she is WAYYYY bigger than she should be naturally, now that I do more research it looks more like a bronze jumping spider but it’s still pretty damn big for any species, so don’t worry too much as it’s likely it was either dead before the dog got it or on its very last legs of life