Bayesian analysis of four partial gene sequences (28S rDNA, wg, CAD and COI mtDNA) from exemplars of all genera and 12 of 17 informal groups of the Notonomus-series of pterostichine carabids strongly supports a clade requiring redefinition of Notonomus Chaudoir, 1862. Notonomus is redefined to include all species currently placed in Notonomus by Lorenz (2005a) plus two Sarticus Motschulsky, 1865 species (S. blackburni (Sloane, 1895) and S. impar (Sloane, 1893)), all species of Leiradira Castelnau, 1867, Conchitella Moore, 1962 Loxodactylus Chaudoir, 1865 and Acanthoferonia Moore, 1965. Analysis of combined data places Sarticus sister to Notonomus with low support. Individual gene analyses indicated wg is in conflict with other loci and analyses exclusive of wg place Parhypates Motschulsky, 1866 sister to Notonomus with very high support. Leiradira species form a clade within Notonomus including Notonomus dimorphicus Darlington, 1961 and N. flos Darlington, 1961. Six new species of the subgenus Leiradira from Queensland are described; Notonomus (Leiradira) thynnefiliarum, N. (L.) vadosus, N. (L.) viridis, N. (L.) spectabilis, N. (L.) iridescens and N. (L.) barrae. Two additional species of Notonomus s.l. are described; Notonomus hephaestus from the Lamb Range, Queensland, which is part of a mimicry complex with Notonomus (Leiradira) aurifer (Darlington, 1961); and Notonomus nocturnocappellus, from New South Wales, which represents a unique combination of characteristics for the genus. Descriptions of all species of Notonomus (Leiradira) with a wide gula, a grouping equivalent to Darlington’s concept of Leiradira, are given. An identification key to species of Notonomus (Leiradira), the two newly described Notonomus s.l. species and all recognised subgenera of Notonomus is provided.

The Scleraxonia are a group of octocorals that share similarities of their axis morphology. However, molecular phylogenetic analyses have shown this group to be largely polyphyletic. As a result, there is a significant lack of understanding of what constitutes distinct evolutionary units among members of this group, particularly at the family level. Prompted by the discovery of an unknown spongiodermid scleraxonian octocoral (Anthothelidae) from shallow water off the Pacific coast of lower Baja California, a phylogenetic analysis of the undescribed specimen, together with members of six scleraxonian families and an additional 29 non-scleraxonian octocorallian families was performed. Two mitochondrial loci (mtMutS and COI) and one nuclear locus (28S) supported a monophyletic spongiodermid clade (Homophyton, Callipodium, Diodogorgia, Titanideum and Sclerophyton, gen. nov.) at the family-level. The unknown scleraxonian was supported as a new genus and species within the spongiodermid clade, sister to the western Atlantic genus Titanideum. A morphological examination of the taxa within this clade revealed shared morphological similarities in solenial (boundary) canals, and medullar and cortical sclerites. A revision, with illustrations, of the Spongiodermidae was performed. Similar to previous studies, this study underscores the importance of combined morphological and molecular analyses in order to resolve unstable systematic relationships among octocorals.

The genus Metania comprises 11 species of freshwater sponge that are distributed circumtropically: five are Neotropical, three Afrotropical, two Oriental and one Australian. Here we infer the phylogeny of the genus Metania and examine the processes that lead to the current biogeographic distribution using cladistic analysis. One matrix with 26 morphological characters was analysed using the TNT software, and resulted in two most parsimonious cladograms (strict consensus). Our results support monophyly of Metania due to two characters unique to the genus: presence of acanthoxeas and presence of spines in the shaft of the gemmoscleres. Also, the genera Drulia and Houssayella were synonymised with Metania. The family Metaniidae – allocated in the recently proposed order Spongillida – now contains three genera: Acalle Gray, 1867, Metania Gray, 1867 and Corvomeyenia Weltner, 1913. Brooks parsimony analysis of Metania resulted in a single area cladogram showing a Gondwanan pattern: (Neartic (Australian (Oriental (Afrotropical, Neotropical)))) and thus the current distribution is explained by the breakup of Gondwana.

We used DNA sequence data to test the morphology-based taxonomy and examine the biogeography of the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest genus Promitobates. Most species are well differentiated morphologically, and a previous morphological phylogeny recovered the genus as monophyletic. However, some of these species have overlapping geographical distributions and considerable intraspecific variation, perhaps representing a species complex. Mitochondrial (12S rRNA and COI) and nuclear (ITS2 and 28S) genes were sequenced from 132 specimens collected from 27 localities. The results are consistent with significant mitochondrial introgression among the species P. ornatus, P. hatschbachi, P. lager, P. bellus and P. intermedius (the ‘P. ornatus species complex’), with one specimen identified as a hybrid between P. nigripes and this complex. A phylogeographic study of the complex was conducted using mitochondrial haplotypes. This revealed remarkably poor dispersal among populations, with only one case of a shared haplotype, and very low genetic diversity. The phylogeny showed a clear break between populations on either side of a narrow region of forest, suggesting an important historical event separated these lineages in the genus. The analyses also pointed to population breaks that date back several millions of years or extremely small effective population sizes, depending on the mutation rate.