Discovery of the freshwater sponge genus Corvospongilla Annandale (Porifera: Spongillida) in Australia with the description of a new species and phylogeographic implications

Abstract A recent discovery of freshwater sponges in an unexplored hydrographic basin north-western Australia provided the opportunity to investigate genus Corvospongilla Annandale (Spongillida: Spongillidae) using integrative systematics. Emendation diagnosis is provided. comparative analysis a global dataset morphological traits together with biogeographic patterns disclosed new Australasian species and along molecular analyses basis for phylogenetic phylogeographic tree some Asian, Afrotropical lineages.