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

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