The 16 species of the South American theraphosine genera Vitalius Lucas, Silva Junior & Bertani, 1993; Nhandu Lucas, 1981; and Proshapalopus Mello-Leitfio, 1923 are described, keyed, illustrated, diagnosed, and a cladistic analysis using 30 terminals and 35 characters is provided. Vitalius comprises nine species ofwhich 4 are newly described: Vitalius paranaensis, Y. longisternalis, Y. buecherli, andy' lucasae. Pterinopelma dubium Mello-Leimo, 1923 and P. vellutinum Mello-Leitfio, 1923 are removed from the synonymy of P. wacketi and these three species are transferred to Vitalius. Pamphobeteus communis Piza, 1939 is removed from the synonymy of Vitalius sorocabae Mello-Leitfio, 1923 and placed in the synonymy of Vitali us dubius (Mello-Leitfio, 1923); Pamphobeteus insularis Mello-Leitfio, 1923, Pamphobeteus masculus Piza, 1939 andPamphobeteus litoralis Piza, 1976 are removedfrom the synonymy of Vitali us platyomma (Mello-Leitfio, 1923) and placed in the synonymy of Vitali us wacketi (MeUo-Leitfio, 1923); Pamphobeteus cucullatus Mello-Leitfio, 1923, Pamphobeteus urbanicolus Soares, 1941, Pamphobeteus ypirangensis Soares, 1941, Pamphobeteus mus Piza, 1944, and Pamphobeteus cesteri (Mello-Leitfio, 1923) are placed in the synonymy of Vitalius dub ius (Mello-Leitfio, 1923); Pamphobeteus cephalopheus Piza, 1944 is removed from the synonymy of Vitali us roseus (Mello-Leitfio, 1923) and placed in the synonymy ofVitalius vellutinus (Mello-Leitfio, 1923). Pamphobeteus rondoniensis Mello-Leitfio, 1923; Pamphobeteus tetracanthus Mello-Leitfio, 1923; Pamphobeteus exsul Mello-Leitfio, 1923; and Pamphobeteus platyomma Mello-Leitfio, 1923 are considered "nomina dubia". The male of V. roseus Mello-Leitfio, 1923 is described for first time.