The specific name, periosus, is Latin from the Greek περισσότερο, meaning "big, huge".

P. periosus is found in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte.

[3] Dorsally, P. periosus has six or seven, dark brown, irregular-shaped crossbars, on a light gray ground color.

Ventrally, adults are golden yellow, but juveniles are milky white.

[5] P. periosus preys on insects and spiders.