The genus Stylifera Stach is considered to include two species only: S. galapagoensis (Banks) and S. gigantea (Escherich). S. galapagoensis, which was previously known from the Galapagos Islands only, is here recorded from the Peruvian coast as well as the south-west coast of Africa. S. gigantea is known from the Caribbean area only. The distribution of the genus confirms its plesiomorphy, and shows that the existence of the Stylifera / Thermobia / Ctenolepisma lineage of Lepismatidae predates the break-up of western Gondwana some 120 million years ago. The implications of this for African South West Arid biogeography are discussed.