Diversity: 24 valid species. Descriptions are old and based mainly on single sex, this genus requires a revision.

Distribution: South Africa, Namibia, Western Africa up to Ethiopia, Uganda (D. armata).

Appearance:  Medium spiders. Contrary to other velvet spiders have cribellum divided into four (or three) parts. Coloration of females and juveniles variable on species. Most species, I have seen, were brown without any spots or markings. Adult males are darkened with pale marking on prosoma, resembling the pattern of Gandanameno males, sometimes with pale abdomen but not so contrast like in other velvet spiders. 

Biology: Living in dry areas of South Africa some species can inhabit, rocky hillocks, savannahs, and even sparse forests. Burrows if any are shallow usually under stones. In captivity is easy to keep but growing quite slowly. Mature female can live for several years (D. kannemeyeri and other species). Number of slights in cocoon is few dozen (experiences with three species), juveniles do not eat mother and females produce multiple cocoons (five and still living D. sp Ethiopia). In breading eats everything what I have tried (flyes, crickets, moths, spiders and beetles).