Latrodectus cinctus is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae, found in Cape Verde Islands, Africa, Kuwait and Iran.[1] It is one of six species of Latrodectus found in southern Africa, four of which, including L. cinctus, are known as black button or black widow spiders. Like all Latrodectus species, L. cinctus has a neurotoxic venom. It acts on nerve endings, causing the very unpleasant symptoms of latrodectism when humans are bitten.[2]

Latrodectus cinctus
Female with egg sac
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Latrodectus
Species:
L. cinctus
Binomial name
Latrodectus cinctus

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Taxon details Latrodectus cinctus Blackwall, 1865", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2016-02-02
  2. ^ Müller, G.J.; Wium, C.A.; Marks, C.J.; du Plessis, C.E.; Veale, D.J.H. (19 September 2012), "Spider bite in southern Africa: diagnosis and management", Continuing Medical Education, 30 (10): 382–391, retrieved 2016-02-02