Taxa described in 1956

Gnathostomulids, or jaw worms, are a small phylum of nearly microscopic marine animals. They inhabit sand and mud beneath shallow coastal waters and can survive in relatively anoxic environments. They were first recognised and described in 1956.

Racemobambos is a genus of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae within the family Poaceae). The genus is native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papuasia.

Gasparia is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by Brian J. Marples in 1956. Originally placed with the intertidal spiders, it was moved to the Toxopidae in 2017. Ranging in size between , the genus is endemic to New Zealand, with most members found living in forested areas.

The Massarinaceae are a family of fungi in the order Pleosporales. Although taxa have a cosmopolitan distribution, they are better-known in temperate regions. They are thought to be saprobic in wood and bark; some species are weak pathogens.

The Phaeotrichaceae are a family of fungi previously considered to be in the order Pleosporales, but now excluded. Taxa have a widespread distribution and are saprobic, on herbivore dung.

Paraliochthonius is a genus of pseudoscorpions in the Chthoniidae family. It was described in 1956 by Austrian arachnologist Max Beier.

Ceramothyrium is a genus of ascomycete fungi in the family Chaetothyriaceae.

genus of insects

Gymnogaster is a genus of fungi in the family Boletaceae. It is a monotypic genus, containing the single secotioid species Gymnogaster boletoides, found in Australia. The fungus produces bright yellow fruit bodies with a light brown internal gleba, and the fruit bodies turn blue then dark brown after bruising or handling.