Key to subfamilies, tribes and genera of Gryllotalpidae

1. First tibia pair armed with only two moving dactyls. Fore trochanter elongated and developed, base of femora with no basal process (figs. 16, 17), hind femur shorter tan pronotum.......................................... Scapteriscinae ....2

- First tibia pair armed with three or four dactyls, two of these always mobile. Fore trochanter without prominences, base of femur bearing a short bladeless process (figs. 18–21), hind femur longer than pronotum................ Gryllotalpinae ...4

2. Fore trochanter armed with a claw in the ventral margin. First tibia pair usually with ventral dactyl shorter that dorsal dactyl, tympani with varying degrees coverage (figs. 16–17). Male tegmina with stridulating file. Parameres of the ectophallus and transversal sclerites of the epiphallus not fused (fig. 32)........................................... Scapteriscini ...3

- Fore trochanter unarmed. First tibia pair with dactyls sub equal in length and widely spaced. Timpani totally exposed. Male tegmina with no stridulating file. Parameres of the ectophallus fused in a single paramere, as is the transversal sclerite of the epiphallus.......................................................... Indioscaptorini n. trib and Indioscaptor

3. Larger in size (greater than 40 mm.). Trochanter blade triangular and reduced to apical tooth, fore tibia dactyls elongated and with an acute apex (fig. 16). Apical sclerite of the epiphallus reduced, only 1.5 times longer than it is wide, antero-apical process mostly membrane-like and shorter than the apical process......................................... Scapteriscus

- Small to medium sized (less than 40 mm.). Trochanter blade elongated across apical fifth to apical half of process (fig. 17). Apical sclerite of the epiphallus pronounced and three or four times as long as it is wide; antero-apical process of the epiphallus pedunculated and sclerotized, almost as long as the apical process (fig. 32–33)............... Neoscapteriscus n. gen.

4. Compound eyes developed, ocelli present (fig. 9), tympani present, first pair of tibias armed with four dactyls, two moving ones and a fixed one (figs. 18–21). Tegmina developed........................................................ 5

- Compound eyes reduced, ocelli absent (fig. 44), tympani absent, first pair of tibia armed with three dactyls, two moving ones and a fixed one (fig. 47). Wingless insects (fig. 43)...................... Triamescaptorini n. trib. and Triamescaptor

5. Mid-sized to large insects, cylindrical and moderately elongated body, usually stout. Fore legs prominent (figs. 18–20). Hind femora as long as half the abdomen length..................................................................6

- Small and slender insects, cylindrical body, clearly elongated. Fore legs soft and small (fig. 21). Hind femora as long as a fourth of the length of the abdomen..................................... Gryllotalpellini n. trib. & Gryllotalpella

6. Conical mesonotum, longer than it is wide. Process of fore femur lens-shaped (fig. 18). Hind tibia with four medial spines and four dorsal ones. Costal margin of tegmina with reticulate venation (figs. 24-25). Abdominal tergites with two rows of setae between the eighth and ninth tergite.................................................... Neocurtillini n. trib. ...7

- Conical or rectangular mesonotum, wider than it is long. Process of fore femur knife shaped (curved acute) (fig. 20). Hind tibia armed with three medial and four lateral spines. Costal margin of the tegmina with veins going all the way to the apex with no reticulation. Abdominal tergites with no setae........................................ Gryllotalpini & Gryllotalpa

7. Stout body, cylindrical and a little elongated. Ovoid or circular ocelli (figs. 64, 69, 74, 79). Distal veins of the costal field well reticulated (figs. 67, 72, 77, 82). Phallic complex: Basal sclerite of the epiphallus a Little longer than it is wide; apical sclerite of epiphallus truncate and with no lateral projections. Ectophallus narrow, basal plates ovate, not elongated. Internal process three times as long as it is wide (figs. 84–97)........................................................ Neocurtilla

- Slender body, cylindrical and elongate. Prominent ovoid ocelli (figs. 114–118). Distal veins of the costal field lightly reticulated (fig. 116, 120). Phallic complex: Basal sclerite of epiphallus wider than it is long, apical sclerite truncate, wavy and with lateral projections. Ectophallus wide, basal plates circular and elongated. Internal process as long as it is wide (figs. 122–125)..................................................................................... Leptocurtilla n. gen.