Cladistic analysis of DNA sequence data (nDNARAG-1 and S7 ribosomal proteinintron 1, and mtDNAcytochrome b) confirms that it is properly treated as full species. It belongs to a group including C. bilineata, C. narentana and an undescribed species from the Bosnian-Croatian border region. The Adriatic endemics separated from the ancestors of C. bilineata, today widespread immediately south of the Alps, around 6–5.5 million years ago. This was during the Messinian salinity crisis, when drainage basins throughout the Mediterranean region changed their course. C. dalmatina appears to be quite similar to C. narentana as regards the mitochondrial DNA sequence, but the nuclear DNA sequences differ far more. This typically occurs in cases of hybridization between distinct but related species. In the present case, C. narentana would have mated with C. dalmatina males, perhaps during some Plioceneglacial.[5]