Parapalystes megacephalus

Kogelberg parapalystes huntsman spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Sparassidae
Genus:	Parapalystes
Species:	P. megacephalus
Binomial name
	Parapalystes megacephalus; (C. L. Koch, 1845)
Synonyms
	Ocypete megacephalaC. L. Koch, 1845 ; Olios megacephalusSimon, 1880 ; Palystes megacephalusPocock, 1896 ; Remmius megacephalusSimon, 1897 ; Palystes lycosinusCroeser, 1996 ;

Last updated November 05, 2025

Parapalystes megacephalus is a spider species in the family Sparassidae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Kogelberg Parapalystes huntsman spider.^[3]

Distribution

Parapalystes megacephalus is found in the Western Cape province. The species has been recorded from Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Bontebok National Park, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Slanghoekvallei, and Onrus.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

Parapalystes megacephalus is a plant dweller. The egg sac is deposited in plants in the Fynbos biome.^[3]

Description

Conservation

Parapalystes megacephalus is listed as Data Deficient by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species was originally described with the type locality given only as Cape of Good Hope. The status of the species remains obscure, and additional sampling is needed to collect more material and to determine the species' range. The species is protected in Bontebok National Park and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.^[3]

Taxonomy

Parapalystes megacephalus was originally described by C. L. Koch in 1845 as Ocypete megacephala. The type specimen has been lost. The genus has not been revised.^[3]

References

↑ Koch, C.L. (1845). Die Arachniden. Vol. 12. Nürnberg: C. H. Zeh'sche Buchhandlung. pp. 1–166. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.43744.
1 2 "Parapalystes megacephalus (C. L. Koch, 1845)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.
1 2 3 4 5 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. 62. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6614498. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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[koch1845-1] Koch, C.L. (1845). Die Arachniden. Vol. 12. Nürnberg: C. H. Zeh'sche Buchhandlung. pp. 1–166. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.43744.

[wsc-2] 1 2 "Parapalystes megacephalus (C. L. Koch, 1845)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.

[dippenaar2022-3] 1 2 3 4 5 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. 62. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6614498. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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