South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide: The Archaeidae of South Africa

The family Archaeidae is known from five genera and 90 species (World Spider Catalog 2020). Only one genus Afrarchaea C. L. Koch & Berendt, 1854, represented by 14 species, are known from South Africa. Through a series of five papers all the species of the genus were described. They are rare spiders and
not easily sampled. Most of them are restricted endemics. Afrarchaea neethlingi Lotz, 2017 and Afrarchaea entabeniensis Lotz, 2003 are listed as Critically Rare and Afrarchaea cornuta (Lotz, 2003) and Afrarchaea woodae Lotz, 2006 are Vulnerable, Afrarchaea cornuta (Lotz, 2003) and Afrarchaea woodae Lotz, 2006 is Endangered, Afrarchaea neethlingi Lotz, 2017 is Rare. The status of six species remains obscure and they are listed as Data Deficient. Only two species Afrarchaea bergae Lotz, 1996 and Afrarchaea godfreyi Hewitt, 1919 have a wide distribution and is of Least Concern.