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