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The taxonomic history of Chinese semisulcospirids is confusing. Originally placed in Melania by late 19th century authors, species have subsequently been dispersed into four different genera, i.e. Semisulcospira Böttger, 1886, Senckenbergia Yen, 1939, Hua Chen, 1943, and Namrutua Abbott, 1948; however, these placements were not conducted within a phylogenetic context. Based on examination of newly collected samples from the Chinese provinces Yunnan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Anhui and Chongqing, we revised the systematics of the Chinese Semisulcospiridae based on comparative anatomy and mitochondrial phylogenetics. We have examined shell, radular, and reproductive features and employed Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses of partial sequences of mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase I and 16S rRNA to resolve the phylogenetic relationships. The results revealed that Semisulcospiridae is represented by three genera in China, which differ in their reproductive strategy, including Semisulcospira, which is viviparous and contains three species (S. ningpoensis, S. gredleri, and S. pleuroceroides); Hua, which is oviparous and contains 11 species; and Koreoleptoxis, which is oviparous and contains one species. Namrutua and Senckenbergia are identified here as junior subjective synonyms of Semisulcospira. All taxa recognised herein formed well differentiated clades in three mitochondrial phylogeny, and could be reliably distinguished by differences in shell shape and sculpture. Four new species of Hua are described from Yunnan Province. This is the first comprehensive study to review the taxonomy of semisulcospirids in China. These species are sensitive to water quality, and economic development and infrastructure expansion have negatively impacted many populations. We fear that some species may have disappeared before being investigated or described scientifically. Therefore, this research will hopefully inspire further studies and surveys to foster our understanding of freshwater gastropod diversity in China. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EF2147FD-9EEE-4922-90DC-76651EF9E6AE

The systematics of Semisulcospiridae in Korea is critically revised by means of comparative anatomy, including comprehensive review of type material and mitochondrial phylogenetics (sequences of COI and 16S). The family is represented by two genera with different reproductive modes: Semisulcospira Boettger, 1886 is viviparous and contains three species (S. coreana (Martens, 1886), S. gottschei (Martens, 1886) and S. forticosta (Martens, 1886)) while Koreoleptoxis Burch & Jung, 1988 is oviparous and also contains three species (K. globus (Martens, 1886), K. nodifila (Martens, 1886), K. tegulata (Martens, 1894)). Koreanomelania Burch & Jung, 1988 is synonymised with Koreoleptoxis. Species can be distinguished by differences in shell shape and sculpture. They form well-differentiated clusters in the mitochondrial phylogeny, consistently revealing lower intraspecific than interspecific genetic distances. Sequences of Japanese Semisulcospira species fall into three distinct major clades (A–C), rendering Semisulcospira non-monophyletic in the mitochondrial tree. Only a small number of Japanese samples were closely related to the Korean clade (Clade C). The numerically predominant Japanese mitochondrial Clade B exhibited increased lineage divergence and, when translated into amino acids, significantly more amino acid substitutions in comparison with Korean species. I conclude that these Japanese sequences may be paralogous and/or may undergo non-neutral evolution. Hence, they are not suitable for inferring phylogenetic relationships.

The systematics and distributions of the Recent species of the cerithioidean genus Diala are described. These small marine gastropods are confined to the Indo-West Pacific. Most are very widespread and have protoconchs which suggest that they possess planktotrophic larvae. Of the 30 available names, seven [D. semistriata (Philippi), D. albugo (Watson), D. suturalis (Adams), D. sulctfera Adams, D. sulcifera scobina (Laseron), D. sulcifera martensi (Issel) and D. lirulata Thiele] are recognised as valid, and one species (D. megapicalis, sp. nov.), from southern and western Australia, is described as new. All taxa are variable in shell characters such as colour pattern and size. An annotated list of all taxa originally described as Diala is provided.