Palystes karooensis

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Karoo rain spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Sparassidae
Genus: Palystes
Species:
P. karooensis
Binomial name
Palystes karooensis

Palystes karooensis is a spider species in the family Sparassidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Karoo rain spider.[3]

Distribution

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Palystes karooensis is found in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape provinces. The species occurs in three protected areas including Karoo National Park and Swartberg Nature Reserve. Notable localities include Aberdeen, Cradock, Graaff-Reinet, Beaufort West, and Worcester.[3]

Habitat and ecology

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Palystes karooensis is a nocturnal hunting spider. During the day, adults are inactive and shelter under loose bark, on vegetation, or in any suitable crevice. The species has been sampled from the Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 7 to 1,446 m.[3]

Description

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See also: Glossary of spider terms

Conservation

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Palystes karooensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in Karoo National Park and Swartberg Nature Reserve.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Croeser, P.M.C. (1996). "A revision of the African huntsman spider genus Palystes L. Koch 1875 (Araneae: Heteropodidae)". Annals of the Natal Museum. 37: 1–122.
  2. ^ a b "Palystes karooensis Croeser, 1996". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ^ a b c d Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Sparassidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 40. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6614498. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.