The Calyptraeidae appear to have been present in New Zealand by late Cretaceous times. By mid–Eocene, the genusSigapatellaLesson had appeared and from such Eocene forms there have been two main evolutionary lines∶ one leading to the Recent S.superstesFleming; the second to the other Recent sigapatelloids. Analysis of sympatric and synchronous upper Oligocene populations showed variation in shell form fromSigapatellaLesson toZegalerusFinlay. The systematic position of some Calyptraeidae is discussed.