About Stegodyphus lineatus (Latreille, 1817)
Stegodyphus lineatus is the only European species belonging to the spider genus Stegodyphus. In the pet trade, this species is commonly known as the desert velvet spider. Males of this species reach a maximum body length of 12 mm, while females can grow up to 15 mm long. Their body color ranges from whitish to almost black. For most individuals, the opisthosoma is whitish and marked with two broad, black longitudinal stripes. Males and females have a similar general appearance, but males typically have stronger color contrast and a bulbous forehead. The species name lineatus refers to the black lines found on the back of these spiders, though this marking is not present on all individuals. This species occurs in the southern Mediterranean region of Europe, including areas south of Barcelona, Sicily, and southern Greece including Crete, and extends eastward as far as Tajikistan.
