The present book is the result of decades of investigation of the European Clausiliidae. The focus points of this investigation were taxonomy and phylogeny of the different groups; the respective work is based on shell and genital morphology and DNA studies. For the species concept used for taxonomic workinformative characters delimiting species taxa are decisive. The frequencies of dextrality and of interspecies hybridization in European Clausiliidae and the resulting problems for species delimitation are discussed. As result of these studies a species list of the European Clausiliidae is proposed. Based on morphological, molecular, paleontological and ecological work an attempt is made to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the European Clausiliidae. In addition their diversity in space and time is described by a comparative list of rich clausiliid faunas in Europe, extant and fossil. Chapters: 1. System of extant European Clausiliidae. 2. Shell morphology of European Clausiliidae. 3. Genital morphology of European Clausiliidae. 4. Genital studies for phylogenetic work. 5 DNA studies of European Clausiliidae. 6. Own DNA studies for taxonomic and phylogenetic work. 7. Dextral Clausiliidae in Europe. 8. Interspecies hybridization in European Clausiliidae. 9. The subspecies concept in South European Clausiliidae, with special regard to the genus Albinaria. 10. Evolution of European Clausiliidae. 11. Clausiliid faunas in Europe, extant and fossil. New taxa: Phaedusinae (Pontophaedusini) n. trib., Laminiferinae (Bofilliellini) n. trib., Alopiinae (Macedonicini) n. trib. Alopiinae (Trilobini) n. trib., Clausiliinae (Idylini) n. trib.
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