# Steppe spider (*Latrodectus tredecimguttatus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/steppe-spider  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The steppe spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) is an arachnid in the spider subgroup, belonging to the family Theridiidae and the genus Latrodectus. Other English names for it are European black widow, Mediterranean black widow and Mediterranean black widow spider. It is classified in the kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, class Arachnida and order Araneae, and its scientific name carries the authority (Rossi, 1790).

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Arthropoda
- class: Arachnida
- order: Araneae
- family: Theridiidae
- genus: Latrodectus
- species: *Latrodectus tredecimguttatus* (Rossi, 1790)

Synonyms: *Aranea 13-guttata*, *Aranea brevipes*, *Aranea tredecimguttatus*, *Latrodectes tredecimguttatus*, *Latrodectus 13-guttatus*, *Latrodectus 13decimguttatus*, *Latrodectus 5-guttatus*, *Latrodectus argus*, *Latrodectus conglobatus*, *Latrodectus erebus*, *Latrodectus hispidus*, *Latrodectus lugubris*, *Latrodectus mactans*, *Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus*, *Latrodectus mactans tredecimiguttatus*, *Latrodectus malmignatus*, *Latrodectus martius*, *Latrodectus oculatus*, *Latrodectus teredecimguttatus*, *Latrodectus venator*, *Meta hispida*, *Theridion lugubre*, *Theridion tredecim-guttatum*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the steppe spider?

The steppe spider is an arachnid in the spider subgroup. It belongs to the order Araneae and the family Theridiidae.

### What is the scientific name of the steppe spider?

Its scientific name is Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, placing it in the genus Latrodectus.

### Who named Latrodectus tredecimguttatus and when?

The species name carries the authority (Rossi, 1790), meaning Rossi described it in 1790.

### What other names does the steppe spider have?

It is also called the European black widow, Mediterranean black widow and Mediterranean black widow spider.

### What family does the steppe spider belong to?

The steppe spider belongs to the family Theridiidae, within the class Arachnida and phylum Arthropoda.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Steppe spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/steppe-spider