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Large collections of Syllidae (Polychaeta) from around Australia, housed at the Australian Museum (Sydney), have been examined and identified. Australian material from the Hamburgische Zoologische Museum der Universität, Hamburg, Germany was also examined, as well as some specimens lodged in other museums. All known Australian species of the subfamily Syllinae (Syllidae) belonging to the genera Branchiosyllis Ehlers, 1887 (9 species): Eurysyllis Ehlers, 1864 (1 species); Karroonsyllis San Martin & López, 2003 (1 species); Parasphaerosyllis Monro, 1937 (1 species); Plakosyllis Hartmann- Schröder, 1956 (1 species); Rhopalosyllis Augener, 1913 (1 species), Tetrapalpia n.gen. (1 species), and Xenosyllis Marion & Bobretzky, 1875 (2 species), are described and figured. Some were examined using the Scanning Electron Microscope to illustrate characters and methods of reproduction in this subfamily. Since there are numerous genera and species of Syllinae, the results will be presented in a series of several papers treating different genera. Keys to genera of Australian Syllinae will be provided in the final paper. Keys to species level are provided for genera having more than one Australian representative. Six new species are described: Branchiosyllis baringabooreen, B. orbiniiformis. B. carmenroldanae, B. thylacine, Xenosyllis moloch, and X. scabroides. A new genus, Tetrapalpia is described for the species Opisthosvllis dorsoaciculata. The genus Xenosyllis is described for the first time from Australia, as well as Branchiosyllis oculata Ehlers, 1887, and B. maculata (Imajima, 1966). A discussion of the reproduction and systematics of the subfamily is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corynethrix obscura L. Koch, 1876 from Peak Downs, Queensland, Australia is redescribed and fully illustrated. The representatives of this species are characterized by small size, a body covered with clavate and spatulate setae and a distinctive pattern on the dorsum of the opisthosoma. The paper includes taxonomic remarks on three genera within the subfamily Bominae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on species of the idiopid trapdoor spider genus Misgolas Karsch, 1878 found in the Illawarra and South Coast Regions of New South Wales, Australia. They comprise eight new species: M. horsemanae n.sp., M. gwennethae n.sp., M. phippsi n.sp., M. kampenae n.sp., M. paulaskewi n.sp.,M. rowelli n.sp., M. tannerae n.sp. and M. shawi n.sp. Four species dealt with in Wishart (1992) and one in Wishart (2006) are also included in the region covered by this work: M. rapax (synonymous with M. hubbardi), M. dereki, M. kirstiae, M. robertsi (Main & Mascord, 1974) and M. gracilis respectively. M. elegans (Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918) is retained here but is regarded as a nomen dubium. Evidence is provided supporting the species status of M. montanus (Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918). A key for males of the species within the region is presented, as well as distribution map and comments on taxonomy and natural history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to document the presence, diversity and distribution of Megalomma in Australia. This could be considered the first valid record of the genus in this continent as the only species previously recorded was transferred to another genus (Knight-Jones, 1997). The species diversity found during this study indicates that the occurrence of Megalomma in Australia has been overlooked, as the genus is well represented with at least seven species, living in a range of habitats and depths, and three of which are herein described as new, M. phyllisae n.sp, M. inflata n.sp. and M. interrupta n.sp. Cladistic analyses have been performed after the generation of a matrix of morphological features including those of some well documented species, in order to find informative characters for grouping species and lo test the validity of previous artificial classifications. According to the phylogenetic hypothesis presented herein, the fusion of dorsal collar margins to the faecal groove and the presence of collar "pockets" characterizes the apomorphic clade of Megalomma species but the number of radiolar eyes is a homoplastic character, varying substantially in the Megalomma radiation, meaning that the traditional groups should be reviewed. A dichotomous key is provided to facilitate Australian species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the subfamily Tethininae of the Beach Flies Tethinidae from Australia and Papua New Guinea. Two new genera and ten new species are described: Sigaloethina phaia n.gen. and n.sp., Thitena cadaverina n.gen. and n.sp., Dasyrhicnoessa atripes n.sp., D. ciliata n.sp, D. humilis n.sp., D. longisetosa n.sp., D. macalpinei n.sp., D. ostentatrix n.sp., D. pallida n.sp., and D. priapus n.sp. A new species group, the Dasyrhicnoessa ciliata-group, is proposed. It differs from congeners primarily in its long-haired arista, slender body and legs, and peculiarities in the male terminalia. New records for Australia and Papua New Guinea are also given for species previously described. The recently described Dasyrhicnoessa clandestina Munari, 2002 is recorded for the second time from Fiji where it was found in association with D. insularis (Aldrich, 1931). A key is proposed to all genera and species of Tethininae known from Australia and Papua New Guinea. An updated checklist to the world species of Dasyrhicnoessa as well as a catalogue of the Tethininae of Australia and Papua New Guinea are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The littorinine gastropods of the temperate southern continents were formerly classified together with tropical species in the large genus Nodilittorina. Recently, molecular data have shown that they belong in three distinct genera, Austrolittorina, Afrolittorina and Nodilittorina, whereas the tropical species are members of a fourth genus, Echinolittorina. Austrolittorina contains 5 species: A. unifasciata in Australia, A. antipodum and A. cincta in New Zealand, and A. fernandezensis and A. araucana in western South America. Afrolittorina contains 4 species: A. africana and A. knysnaensis in southern Africa, and A. praetermissa and A. acutispira in Australia. Nodilittorina is monotypic, containing only the Australian N. pyramidalis. This paper presents the first detailed morphological descriptions of the African and Australasian species of these three southern genera (the eastern Pacific species have been described elsewhere). The species-level taxonomy of several of these has been confused in the past; Afrolittorina africana and A. knysnaensis are here distinguished as separate taxa; Austrolittorina antipodum is a distinct species and not a subspecies of A. unifasciata; Nodilittorina pyramidalis is separated from the tropical Echinolittorina trochoides with similar shell characters. In addition to descriptions of shells, radulae and reproductive anatomy, distribution maps are given, and the ecological literature reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the conference entitled "A Pacific Odyssey: Recent Archaeological Discoveries on the Occasion of Jim Specht's Retirement" held on November 11, 2000 at the Australian Museum. List of speakers in the conference; Number of papers presented; Achievements of Jim Specht.