The genus Clio is a taxonomic group of small floating sea snails, pelagic marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks, the sole genus belonging to the family Cliidae[1]
All species in this genus are characterised by a bilaterally symmetric, straight or adapically dorso-ventrally slightly curved shell, with an elliptical to triangular transverse section; protoconch clearly separated, globular or elliptical, frequently with a spine at the tip. Subgenera are used for some species (e.g. Clio s.str., Balantium Bellardi, 1872, Bellardiclio Janssen, 2004), but most species cannot yet be assigned to one of these.
Numerous fossil species have been described.
Recognised extant species are:
Formae:
The true status of these formae has to be evaluated, they might be real formae, subspecies, or even species.
The genus Clio is a taxonomic group of small floating sea snails, pelagic marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks, the sole genus belonging to the family Cliidae
All species in this genus are characterised by a bilaterally symmetric, straight or adapically dorso-ventrally slightly curved shell, with an elliptical to triangular transverse section; protoconch clearly separated, globular or elliptical, frequently with a spine at the tip. Subgenera are used for some species (e.g. Clio s.str., Balantium Bellardi, 1872, Bellardiclio Janssen, 2004), but most species cannot yet be assigned to one of these.
Numerous fossil species have been described.