[2] Carl Freidrich Roewer erected the genus Akaroa in 1932,[3] but Ray Forster synonymised this under Sorensenella in his monograph on the New Zealand Laniatores.

[2] However, Forster did include the species and subspecies of Sorensenella in a larger key to New Zealand Opiliones published in two parts.

[2] In Sorensenella, the dorsal (upper) surface has one or two spinous tubercles (conical projections) located on the sides of the carapace and level with or forward of the eyemound (a raised, rounded structure with two eyes).

Sorensenella most closely resembles the New Zealand-endemic genus Karamea, but lacks the prominent, forward-directed eyemound spine of the latter.

[9] While these studies affirm the close relationship between Soerensenella and Karamea, they do not support Forster's inclusion of Roeweria (now Lawrencella) and Speleomontia from South Africa in Sorensenellinae.