Clionidae
Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use dmy dates Template:Automatic taxobox
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 Template:Convert.
External anatomyEdit
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 habitsEdit
Mating is carried out ventrally for mutual fertilization. The following spring, this results in a free-floating, gelatinous egg mass.
TaxonomyEdit
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.<ref name="Cliidae">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Comment on the proposal to emend the spelling of CLIONIDAE d'Orbigny, 1851 (Porifera, Hadromerida) to CLIONAIDAE to remove homonymy with CLIONIDAE Rafinesque, 1815 (Mollusca); (Case 3211; see BZN 60: 99-102) Template:Webarchive</ref>
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
GeneraEdit
Genera within the family Clionidae include:
subfamily Clioninae
- Clione Pallas, 1774 – type genus
- Fowlerina Pelseneer, 1906<ref>WoRMS (2009). Fowlerina Pelseneer, 1906. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137794 on 2010-09-</ref>
subfamily Thliptodontinae
- Cephalobrachia Bonnevie, 1912<ref>WoRMS (2010). Cephalobrachia. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=416184 on 2010-09-16</ref>
- Thliptodon Boas, 1886<ref>WoRMS (2010). Thliptodon Boas, 1886. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137797 on 2010-09-16</ref>
subfamily ?
- Paedoclione Danforth, 1907<ref>WoRMS (2010). Paedoclione Danforth, 1907. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.eu/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=160432 Template:Webarchive on 2010-09-16</ref> – with the only species Paedoclione doliiformis Danforth, 1907<ref>"Genus Paedoclione". Marine Species Identification Portal, retrieved 4 February 2011.</ref>
- Paraclione Tesch, 1903<ref>WoRMS (2009). Paraclione Tesch, 1903. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137795 on 2010-09-16</ref>
- Thalassopterus Kwietniewski, 1910 – with the only species Thalassopterus zancleus Kwietniewski, 1910<ref>Gofas, S. (2009). Thalassopterus zancleus Kwietniewski, 1910. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=139183 on 2010-09-16</ref>