Diaphana Brown 1827

Genus DIAPHANA Brown, 1827

Diaphana Brown, 1827: pl. 38. Type species: Diaphana candida Brown, 1827 [= Diaphana minuta Brown, 1827; Recent, North Atlantic and North Pacific], by subsequent designation of Herrmannsen (1847 [in 1846-52]).

Synonyms:

Amphisphyra Lovén, 1846: 142. Type species: Diaphana pellucida Brown, 1827 [= Diaphana minuta Brown, 1827; Recent, North Atlantic and North Pacific], by subsequent designation of Herrmannsen (1852 [in 1846-52]).

Physema H. & A. Adams, 1854: 21. Type species: Bulla hiemalis Couthouy, 1839 [Recent, North Atlantic and North Pacific], by monotypy.

Utriculopsis Sars, 1870: 177. Type species: Bulla vitrea Sars, 1866 [= Diaphana hiemalis (Couthouy, 1839); Recent, North Atlantic and North Pacific], by monotypy.

Austrodiaphana Pilsbry, 1896: 287. Type species: Diaphana brazieri Angas, 1877 [Recent, New South Wales, Australia], by monotypy.

Prodiaphana Chaban, 1996: 140-142. Type species: Diaphana makarovi Gorbunov, 1946 [Recent, Arctic], by original designation.

DIAGNOSIS. — Shell morphology. Shell external, fragile, oval, with a short acuminate, flat, concave or involute spire. Aperture longitudinal, normally as long as the shell, anteriorly rounded. Columella simple. Umbilicus present. Operculum absent.

Anatomy. Rhinophores present. Headshield with triangular flaps on the front corners. Parapodia absent. Digestive system with no gizzard plates. Radula with a rachidian tooth and 1-2 elongate lateral teeth. Reproductive system monaulic. Penis unarmed.

REMARKS. — The genus Diaphana was recently reviewed by SchiØtte (1998), who provided a list of valid species and synonyms. The diagnosis above is based on this revision.

SchiØtte (1998) commented that Bulla hyalina Turton, 1834 is the type species of Amphispira. However, this species was not included in the original description of Amphispira by Lovén (1846) so it is not eligible as the type species.