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

The family Microstigmatidae is a small family represented by 12 genera with only the
genus Microstigmata Strand, 1932 known from South Africa. It is represented by six species
that have been revised in 1985. This small group of mygalomorph spiders are free
running and usually found encrusted with earth. They are usually known from the undergrowth
in humid forests in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Three species has a wider
distribution M. longipes (Lawrence, 1938), M. ukhahlamba Griswold, 1985 and M. zuluensis
(Lawrence, 1938) and are listed as Least Concern with two species Data Deficient
and only one Microstigmata amatola Griswold, 1985 of special concern listed as Rare.