Taxonomic and ecological interest in squat lobsters has grown considerably over the last two decades. A checklist of the 870 current valid species of squat lobsters of the world (families Chirostylidae, Galatheidae and Kiwaidae) is presented. The compilation includes the complete taxonomic synonymy and geographical distribution of each species plus type information (type locality, repository and registration number). The numbers of described species in the world’s major ocean basins are summarised.

New methods in taxonomy and systematics can influence the overall practice of formally naming and describing biodiversity. DNA barcoding has been controversial since its emergence, but now, large scale species descriptions exclusively based on barcodes have created what can be called a ‘new quality of performance’. Its limitations are discussed from different perspectives: nomenclature, general pragmatism, and problems of DNA-based species delimitation in the light of the central aim of achieving a robust and stable nomenclature of organisms, essential for all applications of biodiversity research. This issue needs to be addressed to prevent restraining the progress of taxonomy and its ability to contribute to modern science.

The infraorder Anomura has long captivated the attention of evolutionary biologists due to its impressive morphological diversity and ecological adaptations. To date, 2500 extant species have been described but phylogenetic relationships at high taxonomic levels remain unresolved. Here, we reconstruct the evolutionary history—phylogeny, divergence times, character evolution and diversification—of this speciose clade. For this purpose, we sequenced two mitochondrial (16S and 12S) and three nuclear (H3, 18S and 28S) markers for 19 of the 20 extant families, using traditional Sanger and next-generation 454 sequencing methods. Molecular data were combined with 156 morphological characters in order to estimate the largest anomuran phylogeny to date. The anomuran fossil record allowed us to incorporate 31 fossils for divergence time analyses. Our best phylogenetic hypothesis (morphological + molecular data) supports most anomuran superfamilies and families as monophyletic. However, three families and eleven genera are recovered as para- and polyphyletic. Divergence time analysis dates the origin of Anomura to the Late Permian ~259 (224–296) MYA with many of the present day families radiating during the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Ancestral state reconstruction suggests that carcinization occurred independently 3 times within the group. The invasion of freshwater and terrestrial environments both occurred between the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary. Diversification analyses found the speciation rate to be low across Anomura, and we identify 2 major changes in the tempo of diversification; the most significant at the base of a clade that includes the squat-lobster family Chirostylidae. Our findings are compared against current classifications and previous hypotheses of anomuran relationships. Many families and genera appear to be poly- or paraphyletic suggesting a need for further taxonomic revisions at these levels. A divergence time analysis provides key insights into the origins of major lineages and events and the timing of morphological (body form) and ecological (habitat) transitions. Living anomuran biodiversity is the product of 2 major changes in the tempo of diversification; our initial insights suggest that the acquisition of a crab-like form did not act as a key innovation.

"A new hypothesis of decapod phylogeny" published on 01 Jan 2003 by Brill.

Calanoid copepods are extremely successful inhabitants of marine, brackish and freshwater plankton. Morphological data are used to arrive at a first, parsimony-based phylogeny for the calanoid copepods. Each family is represented by at least one exemplar, typically a recognised plesiomorphic species. The Epacteriscidae are sister to all other calanoid copepods – an observation that brings into question the concept of an Epacteriscoidea that includes the Ridgewayiidae. The monophyly of the Augaptiloidea, Centropagoidea, Clausocalanoidea and Pseudocyclopoidea is corroborated. The current analysis suggests there may be two major clades, one containing the Augaptiloidea, Centropagoidea and possibly the Pseudocyclopoidea and Ridgewayiidae and the other including the Megacalanidae, Calanidae/Paracalanidae, Bathypontioidea, Eucalanoidea, Ryocalanoidea, Spinocalanoidea and Clausocalanoidea. The relationships of the Pseudocyclopidae, Boholinidae, and Ridgewayiidae to the Centropagoidea/Augaptiloidea clade received low nodal support. Monophyly of an enlarged Bathypontioidea (including the Fosshageniidae) is proposed. A monophyletic Megacalanoidea is not retrieved. The nature of the inferred ancestral Calanoida is discussed. New evolutionary series are proposed for the female genitalia (including several losses and regaining of seminal receptacles, and independent losses of the genital operculum – once lost it is never regained) and leg 1 endopod. Paedomorphosis appears to be a dominant process in the evolution of the Calanoida.