The family Gnaphosidae occur worldwide and is represented by 162 genera and 2549 species. It is the third most species-rich spider family in the world and in South Africa it is the second species-rich family represented by 202 species and 31 genera. Of these species 116 (57%) are South African endemics, 66 species (33%) are southern African endemics and 16 are African endemics with four occurring wider than Africa. Only seven genera have recently been revised and 89 species are known from both sexes. Most species (73%) has a wide distribution and is listed as Least Concern and the rest are Data Deficient. However, a large number of records in collections are still undetermined. PART 2 cover the generera Echemus to Smiona.