A big, and yet unresolved question in meiofauna ecology, is why numerous microinvertebrates show a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, even though they lack pelagic life stages and do not possess special dispersal capabilities. In order to understand the dispersal mechanisms behind these species – do they spread with continental drift or do they have hidden dispersal capabilities? – the phylogeography of an intertidal species group of kinorhynchs was analysed. The results showed that their phylogeny follows present days’ geography, suggesting that meiofaunal organisms without dispersal stages possess greater dispersal potential than previously assumed.

About 50 nemertean species are associated with other invertebrates, but sea urchins have not been reported as a host to these worms. We herein describe the new species Cephalotrichella echinicola living among spines of sea urchins of the genus Metalia in Nha Trang Bay (Vietnam). Both the morphological data and phylogenetic analysis support validity of the genus Cephalotrichella and distinguishing the families Cephalotrichidae and Cephalotrichellidae.

The Australian endemic butterfly Pseudalmenus chlorinda is evolutionary distinct and exhibits complex geographical variation. Our aim was to resolve the taxonomy of the species using morphological, molecular and ecological data. We conclude that there are two species, and that the ‘holotype’ male of P. barringtonensis is a fake fabricated by Colin Wyatt as a replacement specimen.

Among the click-beetles, the tribe Ampedini includes several species with unclear taxonomic status. We used two loci to examine the diversity and relationships between the Ampedini species recorded in Switzerland, and showed that most traditional, morphology-based species are congruent with molecular data. Further investigations are necessary to clarify the taxonomic status of some closely-related species, as well as the monophyly of both Brachygonus and Ampedus genera.

Groundwater is known to support isolated but thriving communities of freshwater animals in arid Australia. We studied a group of crustaceans that live in groundwater-dependent habitats around Australia including underground aquifers and freshwater springs. We have found up to 26 species new to science and all of them are trapped in isolated freshwater desert refuges.

Sri Lankan species of the crab spider genus Tmarus are cryptic twig dwellers. In this work, we revise the genus and describe three new species. This study suggests a remarkably high diversity of crab spiders in the forest patches of Sri Lanka and provides new insights to the phylogeny of the family.