Palystes stuarti

Palystes stuarti is a spider species in the family Sparassidae. It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Nieuwoudtville rain spider.

Distribution

Palystes stuarti is found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. The species has been recorded from Nieuwoudtville and Borrelfontein near Gouritz Mouth. It occurs at altitudes ranging from 4 to 699 m.

Habitat and ecology

During the day, adults are inactive and shelter in vegetation. The type specimen was sampled in a house in the Fynbos Biome.

Conservation

Palystes stuarti is listed as Data Deficient by the South [African National Biodiversity Institute]. The species is under-sampled as only one other specimen has been sampled from the Western Cape. The status of the species remains obscure, and additional sampling is needed to determine the species' range.