Paedoclione

Taxobox
name = "Paedoclione"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
ordo = Opisthobranchia
subordo = Gymnosomata
familia = Clionidae
genus = "Paedoclione"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

"Paedoclione" is a genus of "sea angels", small floating sea slugs, pelagic marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks.

They are shaped a little like angels, and have flapping "wings", hence their common name.

They are gelatinous, mostly transparent pteropods, and they only have shells in their embryonic stage.

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.

A more comprehensive discussion can be found under the entry Sea angel.