This study presents new insights in the anatomy of genital organs of some large helicid gastropods from northern Africa. The genetic analysis with the markers COI, 16S, H3, and 5.8 S rRNA+ITS2 reveales a high support for Alabastrina and Otala as separate evolutionary lineages within the Otalini . The position of Siretia as another separate lineage within the Otalini is discussed. “ Tingitana minettei decussata ” clusters within the O. xanthodon clade and confirms that the genus Tingitana can be synonymised with Otala . The genus Alabastrina differs from all other known genera by possession of a penial appendix. This character state is also found in topotypic A. tistutensis . Examination of the twin penial papilla system in Otala recovers a reduction of the proximal penial papilla in O. punctata . The position of Helix murcica as a separate subspecies of O. lactea is not supported, and it is here considered to be a synonym of the latter species.