By far the most species-rich family of Chordeumatida in Europe, and also with a particularly complicated
taxonomy. Although much work has been done on some genera, several others are badly in need of
revision, and several nominal species, of which only some have been included here, remain doubtful.
The vast majority of the 189 species occur in Italy, especially N Italy, and adjoining countries, but
several species occur further west, north and east. Craspedosoma raulinsii Leach, 1814 is the most
widespread European species of the order, extending from France and the British Isles into southern
Scandinavia, C and E Europe, with a few outliers (introductions?) in C Sweden and Russia.