Viviparidae are widely distributed around the globe, but there are considerable gaps in the taxonomic record. To date, 18 species of the viviparid genus
Cipangopaludina
have been recorded in China, but there is substantial disagreement on the validity of this taxonomy. In this study, we described the shell and internal traits of these species to better discuss the validity of related species. We found that
C. ampulliformis
is synonym of
C. lecythis
, and
C. wingatei
is synonym of
C. chinensis
, while
C. ampullacea and
C. fluminalis
are subspecies of
C. lecythis and
C. chinensis, respectively.
C. dianchiensis should be paled in the genus
Margarya
, while
C. menglaensis and
C. yunnanensis belong to genus
Mekongia
. Totally, this leaves 11 species and 2 subspecies recorded in China. Based on whether these specimens' spiral whorl depth was longer than aperture depth, these species or subspecies can be further divided into two groups, viz.
chinensis group and
cathayensis group, which can be determined from one another via the ratio of spiral depth and aperture depth, vas deferens and number of secondary branches of vas deferens. Additionally, Principal Component Analysis indicated that body whorl depth, shell width, aperture width and aperture length were main variables during species of
Cipangopaludina. A key to all valid Chinese
Cipangopaludina species were given.
