蜑螺科是软体动物门腹足纲中较为独特的分支，在腹足类动物系统演化中占有重要的地位。由于其典型的适应辐射进化系统和热带分布等特性使蜑螺科在生物进化方式、动物地理学等研究领域开始受到广泛关注。正是由于这些特性使蜑螺科动物进化出多样的生态习性和贝壳形态，给形态学分类学研究带来了困扰，因此该类动物的分类长期以来一直存在着同物异名或鉴定错误等现象。然而，我国对蜑螺科从未开展较为系统的研究。本项目拟基于中国科学院南海海洋生物标本馆丰富的馆藏标本及后续的补充采集，利用形态学、解剖学与分子生物学技术相结合的手段对我国海域分布的蜑螺科动物展开系统分类学研究，订正错误鉴定，澄清疑难种和近似种的分类地位，摸清我国蜑螺科种类的资源状况；同时根据邻近海域的相关研究，探讨中国海域蜑螺科动物的地理分布特点和区系特征。该研究可为我国海洋软体动物多样性保护和开发利用提供重要的基础资料，并促进腹足纲系统学研究进一步发展。

The Neritidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda) is relatively unique in gastropodan clade, occupying a basal, distinctive position in phylogeny of Class Gastropoda. Because of the greatest adaptive radiation processes, neritids has representatives in tropical and subtropical regions that are generally euryhaline; species are more closely associated with the marine environment, while species prefer to inhabit brackish. Recently, they have gained widespread attention because of their great values in evolutionary ecology and zoogeography. Neritids can be extremely polymorphic as the shells of some species possess a wide variety of colors and patterns, and adaption to different environments. As such, multiple names have been created and many are now considered synonyms or misidentification; this situation has complicated efforts to revise the entire family. However, there is a shortage of systematical study on Neritidae in China. The present project aims at conducting a comprehensive study on the systematics and zoogeography of neritids in the China seas. To achieve this goal, collections in Marine Biodiversity Collection of South China Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and specimens sampled later will be carefully examined. Methods of both traditional morphological taxonomy and molecular biology will be used to identify similar species, clarify taxonomic confusion and analyze the zoogeographical patterns and phylogenetic relationship. Moreover, we would discuss the distribution and faunal character of neritids by comparing with reports of asjacent sea areas. This work will promote the systematic studies of the class Gastropoda, and provide scientific basis for sustainable development of marine mollusc diversity conservation and marine biological resources.