A revision of the afrotropical spider genus Palfuria (Araneae, Zodariidae)

The African genus Palfuria Simon 1910 is revised. The genus now contains ni ne species: the type species Palfuria retusa Simon 1910, described on the b ase of single juvenile, P. gibbosa (Lessert 1936), P. panner Jocque 1991, a nd six species that are described as new: P. caputlari (male female), P. ha rpago (male), P. helichrysorum (female), P. hirsuta (female), P. gladiator (male female), P. spirembolus (male female). The male of Palfuria panner is redescribed, and the female described for the first time. Five species (P. retusa, P. spirembolus, P. gladiator, P. panner, P. harpago) are from the southwestem part of the continent, the other species (P. gibbosa, P. helich tysorum, P. hirsuta, P. caputlari) from the eastern part. The last species is from as far north as northern Tanzania. As in many other genera, there i s a tendency for the embolus to increase in length. Both the most basal (Pa lfuria panner) and the most derived species (Palfuria spirembolus) are foun d in Namibia.