Clionidae

Not to be confused with clionaidae.
Clionidae
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).

External anatomy

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.

Life habits

Mating is carried out ventrally for mutual fertilization. The following spring, this results in a free-floating, gelatinous egg mass.

Taxonomy

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.

These two subfamilies have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005):

  • subfamily Clioninae Rafinesque, 1815 - synonyms: Fowlerininae Pruvot-Fol, 1926
  • subfamily Thliptodontinae, Kwietniewski, 1902 - synonyms: Pteroceanidae Meisenheimer, 1902; Cephalobranchiinae Pruvot-Fol, 1926

Genera

Genera within the family Clionidae include:

subfamily Clioninae

subfamily Thliptodontinae

subfamily ?