Three new species of the genus Harpagopalpus are described from Madagascar, allowing a redefinition of diagnostic character
states of the monotypic family Harpagopalpidae, previously known only from Western Africa (two species) and India (one
species. The separation of the subgenera Harpagopalpus and Harpagopalpellus is supported by new characters. Harpagopalpus
octoporus K.Viets, 1924 and H. tetraporus K.Viets, 1924 are redescribed and a lectotype is designated of H. octoporus. A fourth
new species is described from Cameroon, based on a male specimen erroneously considered to be the female of H. octoporus
by K. Viets.