The 95 species of house centipedes are survivors of more than 400 million years of evolutionary history. Adding new molecular data for species from previously unsampled tropical regions, the relationships of this ancient group proved to be remarkably stable to alternative methods of analysis. The best-fit model of diversification rate for these centipedes is consistent with them being ‘living fossils’.

Scolopendromorpha is one of the largest predator groups in terrestrial ecosystems and an outstanding taxon to study evolutionary biology. Here we re-evaluate the phylogeny of scolopendromorph centipedes using a much denser sampling than previous studies and combining multiple genes with morphological traits with the aim of testing current taxonomic groupings. Our results are congruent among different analytical schemes but show incongruence with the current taxonomy of some groups, leading to changes in the current classification of this distinctive order.

Giant pill-millipedes (order Sphaerotheriida) belong to the iconic invertebrate taxa of Australia, despite the fact that their genus and even family assignment was still unclear. Based on an analysis of 100 morphological characters and studies of ancient type material it was discovered that the Australian Sphaerotheriida fauna is unique, with species of two different Sphaerotheriida families occurring in sympatry: the Procyliosomatidae, which also occur in New Zealand; and the endemic Cyliosomatidae.

This is the first comprehensive morphological and molecular revision of millipedes in Australia. Clarification of the status of two similar genera in South Australia revealed high genetic and morphological variability and highlights the Mount Lofty Ranges as a biodiversity hotspot for short-range endemic millipedes. One of the rare phylogenetic studies on invertebrates with low dispersal ability in Southern Australia is provided here, indicating multiple glacial refugia.

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.