Clionidae | |
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Clione limacina | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Clade: | Euopisthobranchia |
Order: | Pteropoda |
Superfamily: | Clionoidea |
Family: | Clionidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
The Clionidae are a family of sea angels, which are a group of pelagic marine gastropods.
They resemble angels, complete with flapping "wings", hence their common name. They are gelatinous, mostly transparent pteropods, and they only have shells in their embryonic stage. They are mostly very small, with the largest species ( Clione limacina ) reaching 5 cm (2 in).
The Clionidae use winglike flaps for rhythmical locomotion, as if flying in the sea. These "wings" are attached to the anterior part of the body. The posterior part is gelatinous and mostly transparent.
The orange visceral sac is confined to the anterior part.
Mating is carried out ventrally for mutual fertilization. The following spring, this results in a free-floating, gelatinous egg mass.
Clionidae d'Orbigny, 1851 is unfortunately also the name of a family of sponges in the order Hadromerida, class Demospongiae. Within the ICZN there has been a proposed emendation of spelling to Clionaidae for the sponge family. The ICZN has ruled the correct name of gastropod family is Clionidae Gray, 1847, with type genus Clione Pallas, 1774. [1] [2]
These two subfamilies have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005):
Genera within the family Clionidae include:
subfamily Clioninae
subfamily Thliptodontinae
subfamily ?
Limacina is a genus of swimming predatory sea snails commonly known as sea butterflies in the family Limacinidae. This genus contains some of the world's most abundant gastropod species.
Cymbuliidae is a family of pelagic sea snails or "sea butterflies", marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cymbulioidea.
Clione is a genus of small, floating sea slugs, pelagic marine gastropod mollusks in the family Clionidae, the sea angels.
Tiberia is a genus of minute parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies. Tiberia is the only genus in the tribe Tiberiini.
Pyramidellinae is a taxonomic subfamily of minute sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.
Tegula is a genus of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Tegulidae.
Neritidae, common name the nerites, is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized saltwater and freshwater snails which have a gill and a distinctive operculum. The family Neritidae includes marine genera such as Nerita, marine and freshwater genera such as Neritina, and freshwater and brackish water genera such as Theodoxus.
Atlanta is a genus of pelagic marine gastropod molluscs in the family Atlantidae. They are sometimes called heteropods.
Phenatoma is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Borsoniidae.
The Vermetidae, the worm snails or worm shells, are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha. The shells of species in the family Vermetidae are extremely irregular, and do not resemble the average snail shell, hence the common name "worm shells" or "worm snails".
Hipponicidae, common name hoof shells or hoof snails, is a family of small sea snails, limpet-like marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Vanikoroidea.
Boonea is a small genus of small sea snails, pyramidellid gastropod mollusks.
Lottiidae is a family of sea snails, specifically true limpets, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Lottioidea and the clade Patellogastropoda.
Pendromidae is a family of gastropods in the clade Vetigastropoda.
Solariellidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Trochoidea.
Crepidula, commonly known as the slipper snails, slipper limpets, or slipper shells, is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calyptraeidae. This family includes the slipper snails (Crepidula), hat snails (Calyptraea), spiny slipper snails (Bostrycapulus), and cup-and-saucer snails (Crucibulum) as well as Crepipatella, Siphopatella, Grandicrepidula, and Maoricrypta.
Bittium is a genus of very small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cerithiidae, the horn snails.
Tjaernoeia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the informal group Lower Heterobranchia.
Ptychatractidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Turbinelloidea.
Crenella is a genus of bean mussels in the family Mytilidae.