This special edition of ZooKeys contains papers on systematics presented at the 15th International Congress of Myriapodology held in Brisbane, Australia, 18-22 July 2011. Non-systematics papers from the congress are being published concurrently in "International Journal of Myriapodology" volume 6. The International Congress of Myriapodology is held every three years under the auspices of the Centre International de Myriapodologie.