The phylogenetic analysis of Nawrocki et al. (2010) has shown that the scope of the Corynidae and most of its genera must be revised. At the family level, the most important finding was that the Polyorchidae are actually part of the Corynidae clade. This somewhat surprising result makes it nearly impossible to provide a useful and concise morphological diagnosis of the Corynidae. We have to resort to a phylogenetic diagnosis. Additional comments are given in Schuchert (2010), notably also on the genus name Slabberia having priority over Dipurena.

Nawrocki, A. M., Schuchert, P., & Cartwright, P. 2010. Phylogenetics and evolution of Capitata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa), and the systematics of Corynidae. Zoologica Scripta 39(3): 290-304.

Schuchert, P. 2010. The European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): Capitata part 2. Revue suisse de Zoologie 117:337-555.