This family is classified in the informal group Architaenioglossa according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005.

This family occurs nearly worldwide in temperate and tropical regions, with the exception that they are absent from South America.

[3] The oldest known vivparid is Viviparus langtonensis from the Middle Jurassic of England.

[4] The oldest records from the Southern Hemisphere is from the Late Jurassic Talbragar fossil beds of Australia.

Life spans have been reported from 3 to 11 years in various species of Viviparidae.