According to Fauchald (1977) there are 3 genera and 19 species in the world. Australia has only 2 genera present with 1 species each. The 2 Australian genera and 2 species included are based on published descriptions. The principal areas surveyed are Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay (material held in Museum Victoria, Melbourne) and Jervis and Botany Bays (material held in Australian Museum, Sydney). Many taxa undoubtedly remain to be described from Australian waters, especially beyond the soft sediment communities of southeastern Australia which have generated much of the material covered here.

Acrocirrids were originally described as cirratulids, until Banse (1969) diagnosed a new family Acrocirridae. Fauchald (1977) recognised 3 genera, whereas Banse (1969) recognised only 2 genera (Acrocirrus and Macrochaeta). Fauchald included the deep water genus Flabelligella, however, the inclusion of this genus in Acrocirridae has not been widely accepted. The interactive key follows Fauchald (1977) by including 3 genera.