Analysis of the variability of shell dimensions within a large population ofLingulafrom Shelly Beach, near Townsville and comparison with five other Queensland populations indicates that existing taxonomy, which is based largely upon shell dimensions, is inadequate. Examination of data from original species descriptions and of material held in the Queensland Museum, suggests that four previously accepted species,Lingula bancrofti, Johnston and Hirschfeld,L. exusta, Reeve,L. hians, Swainson andL. murphiana, Reeve, should be assigned to the type speciesL. anatina, Lamark, 1801. A fifth speciesL. tumidula, Reeve, is accepted on morphological and ecological grounds.