Onychophora play a pivotal role in discussing arthropod evolution. Our study emphasises the use of ‘integrative taxonomy’ for elucidating the phylogeny of widespread taxa in South Africa. Molecular and morphological data are combined in order to delineate novel species within Peripatopsis moseleyi s. l. Four new species are described. The main objective is a better understanding of cryptic speciation in South African invertebrates in order to facilitate future conservation.

The putatively ancient subterranean crustacean family Parabathynellidae has been little studied and the systematics of the group has been hampered by the absence of any phylogenetic framework. In this study, we used mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S sequence data, plus morphology, to describe four new genetically and morphologically distinct species in a new genus, Arkaroolabathynella, from groundwater in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a previously unknown diversity of parabathynellids from southern Australia, and a complex set of relationships with the eastern (New South Wales) and south-western (Western Australia) continental faunas.

This study examines species diversity within a genus of an ancient freshwater isopod suborder in the south-western part of Western Australia, a known biodiversity hotspot. Using genetics, the research confirmed the existence of two known species and highlighted a new and undescribed species. This contributes to a finer understanding of region’s biodiversity and the processes that have generated this diversity.

Terebelliformia is one of the largest groups of polychaetes, for which a variety of classifications have been proposed. In this study, most genera were examined morphologically and a phylogenetic analysis undertaken. We propose the elevation of existing subfamilies to families, plus a new family. This contributes to our understanding of relationships within polychaetes, and the higher classification of the group.

A revised molecular phylogeny reveals that there are four independent origins of specialisation to a coastal habitat in the genus Aleochara. A clade comprising two subgenera, Emplenota and Triochara, with nine species, is the most successful lineage in terms of species number and broad distribution range. All phylogenetic analyses strongly supported the monophyly of the genus Aleochara, a curtula clade and a bilineata clade.