Steatoda tortoisea is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae. It is endemic to China, where it has been recorded from Yunnan Province.[1] Only the female has been described; the male remains unknown.[2]
The species was first described in 2003 by Yin, Griswold, Bao and Xu based on female specimens collected from the Nujiang region of Yunnan Province.[2] The specific name "tortoisea" is derived from the tortoise shell-like pattern found on the spider's abdominal dorsum.[2]
Distribution
S. tortoisea has been described from Yunnan Province in southwestern China, specifically from the Nujiang region and Liuku in Lushui County.[2] It has also been found in Thailand.[3]
Description
The female of S. tortoisea has a pear-shaped carapace that is red-brown to black-brown in color. The abdominal dorsum is ovoid and black-brown with a distinctive tortoise shell-like pattern and three pairs of muscle impressions, with the second pair being the largest.[2]
The epigyne is characterized by the presence of a scape with lateral margins that turn up towards the median. The vulva contains two large spherical spermathecae.[2] The species is most similar to Steatoda cingulata, but can be distinguished by the presence of the characteristic scape and the distinct abdominal patterns.[2]
The holotype female measures 9.27 mm in total length, with a carapace length of 3.97 mm and width of 3.76 mm. The abdomen measures 5.51 mm in length and 4.55 mm in width.[2]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Yin, C. M.; Griswold, C. E.; Bao, Y. H.; Xu, X. (2003). "Four species of the spider genus Steatoda (Araneae: Theridiidae) from the Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan, China". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 54: 133–140.
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