Biology:Palystes crawshayi
| Lesotho rain spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Sparassidae |
| Genus: | Palystes |
| Species: | P. crawshayi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Palystes crawshayi Pocock, 1902[1]
| |
Palystes crawshayi is a spider species in the family Sparassidae.[2] It is found in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Lesotho rain spider.[3]
Distribution
Palystes crawshayi is recorded from Lesotho and South Africa.[2]
In South Africa, it is known from the Free State, where it has been sampled from Zastron and Bloemfontein. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 1,375 to 1,841 m.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Palystes crawshayi is a nocturnal plant dweller. During the day, adults are inactive and shelter on vegetation. The species has also been sampled from buildings in Bloemfontein. A specimen from Zastron was sampled hiding in a rotten log in the Grassland Biome.[3]
Description
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Conservation
Palystes crawshayi is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Much natural habitat remains within this species' range, and it is suspected to be under-sampled.[3]
Taxonomy
Palystes crawshayi was originally described by Pocock in 1902 from Lesotho. The species was revised by Croeser in 1996.[3]
References
- ↑ Pocock, R.I. (1902). "Descriptions of some new species of African Solifugae and Araneae". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7 10 (55): 6–27. doi:10.1080/00222930208678627.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Palystes crawshayi Pocock, 1902". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2. https://wsc.nmbe.ch/species/35109.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 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. 39. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6614498.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Wikidata ☰ Q3020585 entry
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