Steatoda tortoisea

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]

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]

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]