Several species and forms were described before 1800, most of them with inadequate locality data. At least two names — "Amphidromus laevus" (Müller, 1774) and the form "A. perversus" f. "aureus" Martyn, 1784 – still (as of 2017) have not yet been reported from a precise locality. During the first half of the nineteenth century, many species and varieties were named, again usually with poor locality data. Not until Eduard von Martens (1867) published his monograph was there an attempt to cover the entire complex of species within this genus. The 1867 monograph contained considerable information both on the variation within the genus, and on the problems of the geographic distribution of the species. Many concepts that originated with von Martens are still (as of 2017) in use.