Bradybaeninae

Bradybaeninae is a taxonomic subfamily of medium-sized to small land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Camaenidae, superfamily Helicoidea.

These snails are found mainly in Asia, with only one species occurring in Northwestern Europe: Fruticicola fruticum.

The name of the subfamily and the genus Bradybaena is derived from the Greek words bradus (= slow) and baino (= walk), meaning "slow walker".

Molecular phylogenetic studies from 2007 showed that bradybaenids are closely related with the Camaenidae, which are currently recognized as a distinct family. In these studies both Bradybaenidae and Camaenidae are mutually polyphyletic, together forming a monophyletic group, however. This finding suggests that the distinction of both families as based essentially on the absence (Camaenidae) or presence (Bradybaenidae) of a diverticulum, is arbitrary. This anatomical structure was apparently lost (or was gained) in several groups in convergence and is therefore not suitable for the delimitation of natural groups.