Parapalystes

Last updated

Parapalystes
Parapalystes lycosinus 306178327 552126492.jpg
Juvenile female P. lycosinus
Parapalystes euphorbiae 305700659 551217923.jpg
Female P. euphorbiae
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Sparassidae
Genus: Parapalystes
Croeser, 1996 [1]
Type species
P. euphorbiae
Croeser, 1996
Species

5, see text

Parapalystes is a genus of South African huntsman spiders that was first described by Peter M. C. Croeser in 1996. [2]

Contents

Description

Parapalystes species resemble rain spiders in having a white line on the clypeal edge. [3]

The carapace has the cephalic region domed posterior to the posterior eye row. Dorsally there are two fine white lines, thinly divided, running from the middle posterior eye row to a white patch immediately anterior to the fovea. The clypeus is yellow, and yellow stripes are often vestigial or absent at the outer margin of the chelicerae. The sternum is black except for a white to yellow pattern on the anterior third. [3]

The abdomen has a solid heart mark. Each coxa on the legs has two to five round black marks ventrally. [3]

Life style

Parapalystes species are free-living plant dwellers. [3]

Species

As of September 2025, this genus includes five species, all endemic to South Africa: [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Genus Parapalystes". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  2. 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 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. 58. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6614498. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.