|
Palystes
superciliosus
L. Koch, 1875
[= Palystes natalius]
Life
> Eukaryotes
>
Opisthokonta >
Metazoa
(animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra >
Arthropoda > Arachnomorpha > Cheliceriformes > Chelicerata > Euchelicerata
> Arachnida > Araneae
> Araneomorpha > Family: Sparassidae (huntsman
spiders) > Genus: Palystes
Description
Body length = 25-30 mm. It has slightly darker markings
dorsally and the sternum is of the same colour as the spider with a single dark
traverse bar between the second coxa.
Distribution and habitat
Palystes superciliosus is the most common and
widespread species of the genus. It is distribution ranges from Kwazulu-Natal
then westwards to Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, Gauteng and south through the
Free State to the Eastern and Western Cape. Its favoured habitat is scrubland
and savannah woodland and it is also typically found in houses.
Reproduction
Palystes superciliosus (formerly Palystes
natalius) produces the well known "bag of leaves" egg cocoon as does
Palystes castaneus.
Medical importance
Stories that this spiders' bite is of medical importance
has been disproved and is infact no worse than a bee sting. Guinea pigs that
were bitten died when the original research was done. A subsequent experiment
revealed that those immobilised survived and that unimmolised guinea pigs died
from stress.
Publications
- Newlands G, Martindale CB. 1981. Wandering spider bite - much ado about
nothing. South African Medical Journal 60(4): 142.
Text by Norman Larsen © |
