Palystella namaquensis

Palystella namaquensis is a spider species in the family Sparassidae. It is endemic to southern Africa and is commonly known as the Namaqua Palystella huntsman spider.

Distribution

Palystella namaquensis has been recorded from Namibia and South Africa, where it is known only from Klipfontein in the Northern Cape.

Habitat and ecology

Palystella namaquensis is a free-running ground dweller found in arid regions. It has been sampled from under rocks in the Nama Karoo Biome. The species occurs at altitudes of approximately 927 m.

Conservation

Palystella namaquensis is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species is known only from the type locality with a very restricted range. The male remains unknown, and additional sampling is needed to collect males and determine the full extent of the species' distribution.