Aeolidioidea
A superfamily of shell-less sea slugs in the suborder Aeolidacea.
Aeolidioidea is a superfamily within the suborder Aeolidacea, consisting of nudibranchs—shell-less marine gastropod molluscs commonly called sea slugs. In 2007, Gosliner and colleagues elevated the subfamily Babakininae, formerly part of Facelinidae, to the family level, creating Babakinidae. A 2017 classification by Bouchet and colleagues listed these families in Aeolidioidea: Aeolidiidae, Babakinidae, Facelinidae (with subfamilies Facelininae, Crateninae, Favorininae, Herviellinae, and Pteraeolidiinae), Glaucidae, Piseinotecidae, Pleurolidiidae, and Unidentiidae. A 2019 study on facelinid relationships moved several facelinid genera to the family Myrrhinidae. A 2025 revision by Korshunova and colleagues, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses, recognized the following families within Aeolidioidea: Aeolidiidae, Babakinidae, Facelinidae, Favorinidae, Glaucidae, Myrrhinidae, and Pleurolidiidae.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Aeolidioidea
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The taxonomy of Aeolidioidea has been refined over time. Gosliner et al. (2007) elevated the subfamily Babakininae, previously within Facelinidae, to the family level as Babakinidae. In 2017, Bouchet and colleagues listed seven families inside Aeolidioidea: Aeolidiidae, Babakinidae, Facelinidae (with subfamilies Facelininae, Crateninae, Favorininae, Herviellinae, Pteraeolidiinae), Glaucidae, Piseinotecidae, Pleurolidiidae, and Unidentiidae. A study of facelinid relationships in 2019 removed several facelinid genera to the family Myrrhinidae.
Reader's Guide
A 2025 revision of the taxonomy of Aeolidacea by Korshunova and colleagues, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses, recognized seven families in Aeolidioidea: Aeolidiidae, Babakinidae, Facelinidae, Favorinidae, Glaucidae, Myrrhinidae, and Pleurolidiidae. This revision reflects ongoing efforts to clarify relationships within the superfamily, incorporating genetic data to resolve earlier classifications. The inclusion of Favorinidae and Myrrhinidae as distinct families, and the absence of Piseinotecidae and Unidentiidae from the 2025 list, highlights the dynamic nature of nudibranch taxonomy. The superfamily remains a key group for studying evolutionary patterns among aeolid sea slugs.
Did You Know?
- Gosliner et al. (2007) elevated Babakininae to the family level as Babakinidae.
- The 2025 revision by Korshunova and colleagues recognized seven families based on molecular phylogenetic analyses.
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