About Carrhotus viduus (C.L.Koch, 1846)
Scientific name: Carrhotus viduus (C.L.Koch, 1846). For this species, adult males have a black body, with two thick white stripes running along each side of the head, and another two stripes along the abdomen that do not meet at the tip of the abdomen. Males have a slightly iridescent maroon face, a small white spot on the forehead, and orange borders around the eyes. Females are overall orange, with mixed yellow and orange markings along the abdomen. The female cephalothorax is red and brown, with horizontal white streaks under the eyes. For both sexes, the head and cephalothorax are longer than they are wide. The abdomen is large near its base, then narrows inward to form a cone shape. The legs are covered in black hairs, and the abdomen is covered in white hairs. The spinnerets, the silk-producing organs, are clearly visible at the end of the abdomen. This species ranges from Sri Lanka and India eastward to China, Myanmar, and Vietnam; there are also unconfirmed reports of it occurring in Japan and the Sundas. It inhabits tropical and subtropical woodlands, including gardens, and prefers the thick foliage of short trees and shrubs. It normally moves quickly, and can actively and suddenly jump to escape threats.
