Meotipa

Simon, 1895

Species Guides

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Meotipa is a of comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae) first described by Eugène Simon in 1895. The genus is characterized by pronounced , with females measuring 2.5–6.0 mm and males only 1.1–1.8 mm. Females possess distinctive abdominal including an upward-projecting tip, rounded knob with conspicuous black flattened spines or , and one or two pairs of lateral humps. The genus was synonymized with Chrysso until resurrected in 2009 and currently contains 27 recognized .

Meotipa by (c) Prashantha Krishna M C, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Prashantha Krishna M C. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Meotipa: //miːˈoʊtɪpə//

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Identification

Distinguished from all other theridiids by female abdominal : upward-projecting tip with rounded knob bearing conspicuous black flattened spines/, plus lateral humps. Resembles some Argyrodes in abdominal outline but differs in spine structure and arrangement. From Chrysso (formerly synonymized ) by presence of flattened black spines and specific abdominal projections. Epigynal projection shape (trifid vs. quadrangular) distinguishes some pairs.

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Habitat

Gardens and secondary forests across tropical Asia. Has been observed resting on leaf surfaces.

Distribution

Native to tropical Asia including India (Western Ghats, Goa), China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Hunan, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Taiwan), Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, Sri Lanka; also Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands. Introduced to Netherlands and tropical Americas.

Behavior

Exhibits distinctive resting posture: pivots body axis over 90 degrees to rest with one side toward leaf surface, legs wrapped in semicircle on leaf.

Similar Taxa

  • ChryssoFormerly synonymized with Meotipa; distinguished by absence of flattened black spines and different abdominal
  • ArgyrodesShares similar abdominal outline with upward-projecting tip; distinguished by different spine structure and arrangement on abdominal knob

More Details

Taxonomic history

was synonymized with Chrysso until resurrected in 2009 based on morphological differences including presence of flattened black spines.

Species diversity

As of October 2025, contains 27 ; three former species now in synonymy.

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Sources and further reading