Distribution of Monacha claustralis (Rossmässler, 1834) and M. cartusiana (O. F. Müller, 1774) (Eupulmonata: Hygromiidae) in Central European and Balkan countries: new data.

Monacha claustralis (Rossmässler) and M. cartusiana (O. F. Müller) are frequently confused due to their great shell similarity. The only reliable identification of these species can be based on the genital and molecular characters. Based on sequences of two mitochondrial gene (COI and 16SrDNA) fragments we identified the distribution of these species. M. claustralis was recognised as a species spreading northwards from its typical Turkish and Greek localities since its occurrence was discovered in Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina on the basis of anatomical and molecular evidence. Moreover, its several new localities in Poland are reported. The occurrence of M. cartusiana is for the first time molecularly confirmed in Germany, Slovakia, Austria, Croatia and Kosovo, and some new localities are also reported from Poland, Hungary, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.