The four species of Aphonopelma currently listed by Platnick (2013) as coming from South America are re-examined and discussed. Aphonopelma bistriatum (C. L. Koch, 1838) is regarded as a junior synonym of Ephebopus murinus Simon, 1892 n. syn.; A. aberrans (Chamberlin, 1917), A. pedatum (Strand, 1907) and A. rubropilosum (Ausserer, 1871) are regarded as nomina dubia.