A new species of Afrocamilla is described from a series of females from the Bale Mountains in southeastern Ethiopia. The new species is unique within the Camillidae in having markedly swollen fore femora with a posteroventral protrusion of cuticle bearing a dagger-like spine on each femur. The ornamentation of the fore femora of other Camillidae is reviewed. Their possible functions in A. femorata sp. n. are evaluated, and based on the position of the spines it is suggested that they may be used to assist will) movement over uneven substrates or for breaking open dung pellets for egg deposition.