Rotifers form a diverse microfaunal group in freshwater ecosystems. They occupy an intermediate level in food chains and play a significant role in energy and elemental transfer from primary producers to consumers. Consequently, information on their species diversity and distribution is critical for understanding the structure and functioning of freshwater ecosystems. Prior to 1995, 610 species of rotifers were known from Australian inland waters. Now the current number of species totals ~760 species, comprised of a highly diverse group of genera: Lecane, Trichocerca, Lepadella, Brachionus and Cephalodella (each genus containing >30 spp.). There are species that remain undescribed (e.g. those belonging to Cephalodella in Victoria and Asplanchna in South and Western Australia). There are range extensions of species including North American species Keratella americana in SA and Notommata saccigera in NSW and southeast Asian species Lecane shieli in NSW. It is likely that there are more undescribed species waiting to be discovered and we stress the importance of alpha taxonomy to improve our knowledge on species diversity and distribution of rotifers in Australian inland waters.