History:

The monotypic genus Trichognathella was estabablished as Trichognatha in 2002 by Richard C. GALLON in his revision of the genera Pterinochilus and Eucratoscelus on the basis of a male Pterinochilus schönlandi POCOCK, 1900. In consideration of the fact that the generic name Trichognatha was reserved by a carabid beetle genus, GALLON changed in 2004 the generic name into Trichognathella.
Trichognathella is greek (thrix = hair, gnatha = jaw) and relates to the presence of a non-plumose scopulae on the prolateral face of the chelicerae (in contrast to Harpactira, the scouplae is not plumose). The habitat of the holotye of T. schoenlandi is Grahamstown in South Africa. Dr. John HEWITT (1919) discussed the taxonomic position of T. schoenlandi with A. S. HIRST . HEWITT expressed the opinion that the present of prolateral cheliceral scopula exclude a integration in the genus Pterinochilus but did not follow up in this facts. Maybe his death in 1920 stopped his work in this taxon. Also Andrew M. SMITH noted this specific feature in his book "Baboon Spiders" and commented it as "unusual for the genus" (Pterinochilus).
The reason for establish the genus was the presence of a non-plumose scopulae on the prolateral face of the chelicerae.
The mainarea of circulation is the southern Africa.

Key features of the genus:

• Scopulae on the retro- (Fig. 160 ) and prolaterale (Fig. 158 ) face of the chelicerae, prolaterale scopulae not plumose
• Fovea transverse
• small Harpactirinae (female: ~28mm, male: ~18mm)
• Distal segment of posterior spinneret digitiform (Fig. 108 )
• Tarsal scopulae undivided (s. P. chordatus )
• Metatarsal scopulae on leg I, II and III undivided (s. P. chordatus )
• Metatarsal scopulae on leg IV bisected longitudinally by band of stiffened setae (s. P. chordatus )
• Spermathecae paired, without terminal lobs (Fig. 59 )

Species:

Trichognathella schoenlandi (POCOCK, 1900) (Type species)
	Distribution: South Africa and Tanzania Coloration: Legs, palpi, abdomen and chelicerae grey/brown. Leg and palp joints are pale yellow. Carapace with yellow radial striae. Sternum and coxae dark brown. Fovea: deep transverse, covered with setae Spermathecae: obtuse without terminal lobs (Fig. 163 ) Palpal bulb: pyriform, squat, with short, flattened, bi-keeled (prolateral superior and apical) embolus. Union between embolus and tegulum with folded appearance (Figs. 153 , 154 , 155 , 156 ). Body length: male ~18mm, female ~28mm

Synonyms:

Pterinochilus schönlandi POCOCK, 1900 = T. schoenlandi (POCOCK, 1900)