We contribute to the classification of finite dimensional algebras under stable equivalence of Morita type. More precisely we give a classification of Erdmann's algebras of dihedral, semi-dihedral and quaternion type and obtain as byproduct the validity of the Auslander-Reiten conjecture for stable equivalences of Morita type between two algebras, one of which is of dihedral, semi-dihedral or quaternion type. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.