History:
The genus Harpactirella was established by William Frederick PURCELL (*1866 - †1919) in 1902 on the base of H. treleaveni. Harpactirella lacks scopulae on the pro- and retrolaterl face of the chelicerae. This taxon is unique within the subfamily Harpactirinae.
Richard C. GALLON is working at the moment on a revision of the genera Harpactira and Harpactirella. Up to the publishing of this revision, there will be no detailed speciesinformation on the website.
In fact that the species of the genus Harpactirella (except for H. insidiosa (DENIS, 1960) und H. latithorax (STRAND, 1908)) only occur in South Africa which has a strict export ban, the species of this genus can not or very rare be found in the hobby.
Ashantia STRAND, 1908 and Luphocemus DENIS, 1960 were synonymised with Harpactirella by Dr. Robert J. RAVEN in 1985.
The genus enfolded at the moment 13 species.

 

 

Key features of the genus:

• Scopulae on the chelicerae pro- and retrolateral absent
• Fovea transverse or slightly procurved
• small Harpactirinae
• Distal segment of posterior spinneret digitiform (Fig. 108 )
• Tarsal scopulae bisected in some specimen (addicted on the size)
• Metatarsal scopulae on leg I, II and III undivided (s. P. chordatus )
• Metatarsal scopulae on leg IV bisected longitudinally by band of stiffened setae (s. P. chordatus )
• Spermathecae paired

 

 

Species:

• Harpactirella domicola PURCELL, 1903
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella flavipilosa LAWRENCE, 1936
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella helenae PURCELL, 1903
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella insidiosa (DENIS, 1960)
  Distribution: Morocco
• Harpactirella karrooica PURCELL, 1902
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella lapidaria PURCELL, 1908
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella latithorax (STRAND, 1908)
  Distribution: Ghana
• Harpactirella lightfooti PURCELL, 1902
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella longipes PURCELL, 1902
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella magna PURCELL, 1903
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella schwarzi PURCELL, 1904
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella spinosa PURCELL, 1908
  Distribution: South Africa
• Harpactirella treleaveni PURCELL, 1902 (Type species)
  Distribution: South Africa

 

 

Synonyms:
H. leleupi BENOIT, 1965 = Idiothele nigrofulva (POCOCK, 1898)

Ashantia STRAND, 1908 = Harpactirella PURCELL, 1902
Luphocemus DENIS, 1960 = Harpactirella PURCELL, 1902