The taxonomy of the family Philinidae has been hampered by a lack of proper species descriptions combining morphological, anatomical, and phylogenetic data within a comparative framework. To date, most descriptive work has been based on shells alone and on few specimens. We here followed an integrative taxonomic approach to study the diversity of the family in the north-east Atlantic, with emphasis on the Scandinavian Peninsula, by combining shell and morpho-anatomical characters with molecular phylogenetic inference. Synonyms, ecology, and geographical distributions are given for each species and a dichotomous key for species identification is provided. Anatomical dissections, examination of shells, radulae, gizzard plates, male reproductive systems, and molecular phylogenetics based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c subunit I (COI) were used to discriminate amongst species and define diagnostic characters. Nineteen species of Philinidae were recognized, including two new to science (Philine indistincta sp. nov. and Philine grandioculi sp. nov.). The presence of Philine quadripartita (and not Philine aperta) in the north-east Atlantic is confirmed. Species can be best differentiated by their external morphology, shells, and male reproductive system. The generic division of Philinidae into Johania, Laona, Philine, and Praephiline was not supported and all species have been ascribed to the genus Philine.

West Africa is often considered one of the least studied regions of the world concerning marine biodiversity. Knowledge about the philinid snails of the region has largely been based on shells, but shells can be insufficient to discriminate between species. In this paper, we review the diversity and revise the systematics of the West African species of Philinidae sensu lato based on a comprehensive literature review and the study of shells, anatomy and DNA sequence data of novel specimens obtained by the R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen (2005Nansen ( -2012 between Morocco and Angola. We use scanning electron microscopy together with a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I molecular phylogeny and molecular species delimitation methods (ABGD and SDP Geneious Plug In) to define species. Twenty species (19 formally named) were found to occur in the region, including four new species we describe here: Laona nanseni sp. nov., Philine cerebralis sp. nov., Philine schrammi sp. nov. and Spiniphiline caboverdensis sp. nov. We identified a complex of four cryptic species under the name P. quadripartita (P. guineensis, P. quadripartita, Philine schrammi sp. nov., Philine sp.). A biogeographical break is observed around Cape Verde and the Sahelian upwelling system coinciding with the West African Transition Province; eight species have their northern geographical limit or are restricted to this Province, while ten species have their southern limit here or just further north. Only one species seems to span across this biogeographical breaking point (P. scabra), but we speculate that this might result from taxonomic misidentifications.

Diaphanidae has traditionally been considered the basal family of the heterobranch gastropod clade Cephalaspidea with 14 species present in Europe ascribed to five genera. The monophyletic status of the family is controversial because of lack of sound synapomorphies. In this paper we present a review of the diversity of Diaphanidae in Europe and give new data on the morphology and anatomy of 50% of the species together with a synopsis of the relevant systematic characters to distinguish between all European species and genera. The rare species Colobocephalus costellatus is redescribed and shown alive for the first time.Further evidence supporting the non-monophyly of Diaphanidae is given; no synapomorphies were found to unite traditional Diaphanidae taxa, but three groups can be recognized: (1) Diaphaninae with genus Diaphana is united by a globose external, thin, and umbilicate shell and radulae with a bilobed rachidian tooth; (2) Toledoniinae, with genera Toledonia and Bogasonia share the presence of a shell with elevated spire and radulae with a unicuspid rachidian tooth; and (3) an unnamed group, with Colobocephalus and Colpodaspis which are the only genera with internal shells, sculptured and globose with short but protruding spires, and radulae lacking rachidian tooth and with smooth hook-shaped lateral teeth.

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