Cavoliniidae
Cavoliniidae is a family of small, planktonic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cavolinioidea. Cavoliniidae is the only family within Cavolinioidea. Cavoliniidae are commonly called “pteropods” (meaning “wing-footed” in Greek) or “sea butterflies” because of their wing-like parapodia, which they use for swimming.
Common Names
Members of this family are commonly called "pteropods", "sea butterflies", or "sea angels".
Characteristics
Cavoliniidae are characterized by their translucent, gelatinous bodies and their large, wing-like parapodia. They have a shell, but it is often small and thin. Their shell can be coiled or straight, and they have a unique, spiral structure on their shell called a "sinus". This sinus helps to trap water and air, which aids in flotation. Cavoliniidae also have a well-developed head, with two tentacles and a pair of eyes.
Environments
Cavoliniidae are found in all the world's oceans, but they are most common in warm, tropical waters. They are pelagic, meaning they live in the open ocean, and they are often found in the surface waters. They are an important food source for many marine animals, including fish, squid, and whales.
Genera
The Cavoliniidae family comprises the following genera:
- Cavolinia Abildgaard, 1791
- Creseis Rang, 1828
- Diacria Gray, 1840
- Euclio Turton, 1807
- Firoloida Lesueur, 1824
- Latia Gray, 1840
- Peraclis Rang, 1828
- Styliola Lesueur, 1824