Arthrochilus huntianus was first described by Mueller (1889) as Drakaea huntiana as "leafless at flowering time" and with "empty bracts". Mueller (1889) analyzed specimens found from W. Baeuerlen from Mount Tingiringi, in the south of New South Wales, Australia. Schlechter (1921) proposed a new combination Spiculaea huntiana in the sister genus. Both authors mention the similarities to D. irritabilis or S. irritabilis (today: Arthrochilus irritabilis) and list the features of the collumn the easiest way to identify this species. Finally Blaxell (1972, not seen) proposed the transfer to Arthrochilus, and changed the epithet from huntiana to huntianus. A. huntianus is the only leafless species in its genus, which contains 15, predominantly Australian, species. The fully mycoheterotrophic status has to be confirmed, as the stem shows green colours. WCSP (2021) does not currently list it as holomycotroph but as tuber geophyte. Jones & Clements (2002, not seen) proposed a new genus, splitting Arthrochilus. Thynninorchis contains this species and a subsp. nothofagicola of it, and refers to its unique taxonomic position and the thynnid wasps (Thynnidae) that pollinate the flowers. The flowers are themselves looking like an insect, as the labellum is dangling like a lure from the rest of the flower (Wikipedia 2021). The new name Thynninorchis huntiana is used by some authors, but is not accepted by WCPS (2021). The species can be found in the Southeast of Australia in the states NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia (POWO 2021).
The proposed sister species Thynninorchis nothofagicola (Jones & Clements 2002, not seen) is not yet accepted although the Australian government and others use the genus name. It is accepted as a subspecies Arthrochilus huntianus subsp. nothofagicola, but recorded only from one location in the South of Tasmania and seen only three times. It is distinguishable from A. huntiana in its labellum hinge that is fully functional, and because it has more and larger flowers with a well developed labellum callus with numerous relatively long bristles. It is a very rare orchid. Conservation projects built a cage around the location to protect it from a particular bird species (Australian Orchid Council Inc. 2021).