Reproduction is iteroparous, and juvenile snails emerge from eggs laid on a firm surface by a gonochoristic female.

There is very high level of mitochondrial heterogeneity in apparent species of Pleuroceridae (highest among gastropods, also with Semisulcospiridae), that has not been sufficiently explained yet as of 2015.

[3] However, it has been suggested that this may be due to pleurocerids having very poor dispersal abilities, allowing even slightly separated populations to see great genetic divergence.

Similar snails formerly classified with Pleuroceridae, but now assigned to other families are widespread in temperate and tropical parts of Southern and Eastern Asia,[citation needed] and Africa.

[citation needed] Most require unpolluted rivers and streams, but a few are adapted to living in lakes or reservoirs.