Southern African Rain Spider

Description:

Palystes is a genus of huntsman spiders, commonly called rain spiders or lizard-eating spiders,[2] occurring in Africa, India, Australia, and the Pacific.[1] The most common and widespread species is P. superciliosus, found in South Africa, home to 12 species in the genus.[1][2] The name Palystes is derived from either the Latin palaestes or the Greek palaistes, meaning "wrestler".[2] The genus was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1875.[1] Palystes are large spiders, with a body length of 15–36 mm, and a leg span of up to 110 mm. Their top side is covered in tan to dark tan velvety setae (hairs). The underside of their legs is banded in colour, and their legs and abdomens may be interspersed with slightly longer setae. They have a large moustachial stripe below their front eyes, and extending down their fangs.[2] While Palystes mostly hunt insects on plants, they commonly enter houses after rain, or during the summer, where they will prey on geckos (usually Afrogecko porphyreus in the Western Cape, or Lygodactylus capensis in the eastern parts of southern Africa). Males are regularly seen from August to December, probably looking for females.[2]