The Australian painted-snipe was described as "Rostratula australis" by John Gould in 1838, although later lumped with the similar greater painted-snipe, "R. benghalensis" as subspecies "R. b. australis". However, morphological and genetic differences have resulted in the species being restored in recent years. Such a similarity between the two species can be explained by a recent evolutionary divergence, and is an example of allopatric speciation where the prevention of gene flow by geographical isolation has resulted in an accumulation of differences by genetic drift and differing selective pressures.