An introduction to the Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment (FADA) project -- Global diversity of aquatic macrophytes in freshwater -- Global diversity of sponges (Porifera: Spongillina) in freshwater -- Global diversity of inland water cnidarians -- Global diversity of free living flatworms (Platyhelminthes, "Turbellaria") in freshwater -- Global diversity of rotifers (Rotifera) in freshwater -- Global diversity of nemerteans (Nemertea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of nematodes (Nematoda) in freshwater -- Global diversity of hairworms (Nematomorpha: Gordiaceae) in freshwater -- Global diversity of gastrotrichs (Gastrotricha) in fresh waters -- Global diversity of bryozoans (Bryozoa or Ectoprocta) in freshwater -- Global diversity of tardigrades (Tardigrada) in freshwater -- Global diversity of polychaetes (Polychaeta; Annelida) in freshwater -- Global diversity of oligochaetous clitellates ("Oligochaeta"; Clitellata) in freshwater -- Global diversity of leeches (Hirudinea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of freshwater mussels (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in freshwater -- Global diversity of gastropods (Gastropoda; Mollusca) in freshwater -- Global diversity of large branchiopods (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) in freshwater -- Global diversity of cladocerans (Cladocera; Crustacea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of ostracods (Ostracoda, Crustacea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda) in freshwater -- Global diversity of fishlice (Crustacea: Branchiura: Argulidae) in freshwater -- Global diversity of mysids (Crustacea-Mysida) in freshwater -- Global diversity of spelaeogriphaceans & thermosbaenaceans (Crustacea; Spelaeogriphacea & Thermosbaenacea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of cumaceans & tanaidaceans (Crustacea: Cumacea & Tanaidacea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of Isopod crustaceans (Crustacea; Isopoda) in freshwater -- Global diversity of amphipods (Amphipoda; Crustacea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of syncarids (Syncarida; Crustacea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of crabs (Aeglidae: Anomura: Decapoda) in freshwater -- Global diversity of crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) in freshwater -- Global diversity of shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) in freshwater -- Global diversity of crayfish (Astacidae, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae-Decapoda) in freshwater -- Global diversity of water mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia; Arachnida) in freshwater -- Global diversity of halacarid mites (Halacaridae: Acari: Arachnida) in freshwater -- Global diversity of oribatids (Oribatida: Acari: Arachnida) -- Global diversity of springtails (Collembola; Hexapoda) in freshwater -- Global diversity of mayflies (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) in freshwater -- Global diversity of dragonflies (Odonata) in freshwater -- Global diversity of stoneflies (Plecoptera; Insecta) in freshwater -- Global diversity of true bugs (Heteroptera; Insecta) in freshwater -- Global diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera: Insecta) in freshwater -- Global diversity of dobsonflies, fishflies, and alderflies (Megaloptera; Insecta) and spongillaflies, nevrorthids, and osmylids (Neuroptera; Insecta) in freshwater -- Global diversity of water beetles (Coleoptera) in freshwater -- Global biodiversity of Scorpionflies and Hangingflies (Mecoptera) in freshwater -- Global diversity of non-biting midges (Chironomidae; Insecta-Diptera) in freshwater -- Global diversity of craneflies (Insecta, Diptera: Tipulidea or Tipulidae sensu lato) in freshwater -- Global diversity of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in freshwater -- Global diversity of mosquitoes (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae) in freshwater -- Global diversity of dipteran families (Insecta Diptera) in freshwater (excluding Simulidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae and Tabanidae) -- Global diversity of butterflies (Lepidotera) in freshwater -- Global diversity of hymenopterans (Hymenoptera; Insecta) in freshwater -- Global diversity of true and pygmy grasshoppers (Acridomorpha, Orthoptera) in freshwater -- Global diversity of fish (Pisces) in freshwater -- Global diversity of amphibians (Amphibia) in freshwater -- Global diversity of lizards in freshwater (Reptilia: Lacertilia) -- Global diversity of crocodiles (Crocodilia, Reptilia) in freshwater -- Global diversity of turtles (Chelonii; Reptilia) in freshwater -- Global diversity of snakes (Serpentes; Reptilia) in freshwater -- Global diversity of mammals (Mammalia) in freshwater -- Global diversity of freshwater birds (Aves) -- The Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment: an overview of the results. The Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment gives a state of the art assessment of the diversity and distribution of Metazoa in the continental waters of the world. The project deals with all major animal groups plus the macrophytes, and encompasses the complete array of terrestrial aquatic ecosystems. It is the most comprehensive study of species- and genus-level diversity and chorology of the global freshwater fauna to date, and is the first to present comparable data on the different faunal groups concerned. The project draws from the collected expertise of numerous world-renowned taxonomic experts that have bundled efforts to produce this outstanding volume. The result is invaluable to all scientists, managers and conservationists interested in non-marine aquatic animals.