Zygoballus rufipes, commonly called the hammerjawed jumper,[2] is a species of jumping spider which occurs in the United States, Canada, and Central America.

[5] In 1980, after examining specimens of Z. bettini and Z. rufipes from various populations, G. B. Edwards concluded that the differences mentioned by the Peckhams were not consistently distinct and that the two names represented a single species of variable appearance.

Zygoballus rufipes has been reported from Canada,[7] the United States,[8] Mexico,[9] Guatemala,[4] and Costa Rica.

[11] In 1946, however, arachnologist Arthur M. Chickering concluded that Banks' specimen belonged to the newly described species, Zygoballus optatus.

[12] A one-year survey of Panamanian spiders conducted by zoologist Wolfgang Nentwig also failed to yield the species.