Abstract

The peloridiids are revised to comprise 17 genera and 32 species with following new taxa: Craspedophysa monteithi gen. and sp. n., Peltophysa minor gen. and sp. n. (both from Northern Queensland), Idophysa chonos gen. and sp. n. (from Southern Chile), Rhacophysa gen. n. for Hackeriella taylori, Hackeriella brachycephala sp. n., H. echina sp. n., Hemiodoecus acutus sp. n., H. crassus sp. n. (all from Australia), Oiophysa paradoxa sp. n., Xenophysella greensladeae sp. n. (both from New Zealand), Oiophysella constans sp. n., Oiophysella cristata sp. n. and Oiophysella marginata sp. n. (all from New Caledonia). The following new synonymies are proposed (senior synonym first): Oiophysa ablusa = O. fuscata, Howeria kingsmilli = H. coggeri and H. payteni, and Xenophysella stewartensis = X. dugdalei and X. pegasusensis; the synonymy of Hemiodoecellus fidelis = H. donnae is confirmed. The recognised taxa are diagnosed and a key for their identification is provided. It is shown that peloridiids have five morphologically distinct larval instars. A key for identifying the last larval instar to genus and species is provided. A cladistic analysis using 32 adult characters results in two most parsimonious trees. The trees are mostly consistent with the diversification of peloridiids as consequence of the break‐up of Gondwana (New Zealand/New Caledonia (South America + Australia)). The position of the New Caledonia clade is within and not sister to the New Zealand clade as is suggested by geology. Of particular biogeographic interest is the taxon from Lord Howe Island which is nested within a clade of genera from Central/Northern NSW and Queensland. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)