The African genus Coptorhina Hope is revised. Nine new synonymies are established which reduces the number of valid names from 15 to six. One new species is also described. The name changes are the following: C. subaeneaJanssens, C. bicolor Ancey, C. pygmaea Balthasar and C. saganicola Müller are considered junior synonyms of C. nitidipennis Boheman; C. africana Hope, C. vicina Péringuey, C. obtusicornis Boheman, C. punctata Ferreira and C. optataPéringuey are considered junior synonyms of C. klugii Hope. The new species, C. excavata sp. n., is described from southern Africa. A key to the species and notes on biology are given. Keywords: Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Coptorhina, new species, new synonymy, key to species, Africa.