Diaphanoidea is a taxonomic superfamily of small sea snails, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the Cephalaspidea, the headshield slugs and bubble snails.
Species in this superfamily have small, flimsy, almost globular shells, known as paper bubble gastropod shells.
This superfamily is not monophyletic. Oskars T.R., Bouchet P. & Malaquias M.A. (2015). A new phylogeny of the Cephalaspidea (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) based on expanded taxon sampling and gene markers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 89: 130-150
Distribution Species in this superfamily are found in cold seas, such as the Arctic region, Antarctica, Australia, and New Zealand.
Habitat The species occur in the sublittoral to abyssal zones.
Shell description The shell is minute, thin, fragile, colorless to translucent, and usually less than 5 mm in size. The overall shape is ovate, pear-shaped, and bulbous. There is a sunken apex.
Families Families in the superfamily Diaphanoidea include: Colinatydidae Oskars, Bouchet, and Malaquias, 2015 Cylichnidae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 Diaphanidae Odhner, 1922 Mnestiidae Oskars, Bouchet, and Malaquias, 2015 Notodiaphanidae Thiele, 1931 (taxon inquirendum)
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External links
Photo of Colpodaspis thompsoni