Diaphanidae is a taxonomic family of small sea snails, marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs or micromollusks in the superfamily Diaphanoidea, the headshield slugs and bubble snails. The little-known species in this family have small, flimsy, almost globular shells, known as paper bubble gastropod shells. Distribution Species in this family 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. Genera Genera within the family Diaphanidae include: Subfamily Diaphaninae Genus Austrodiaphana Pilsbry, 1893 Austrodiaphan brazieri Angas, 1877 Distribution : Western Australia Length : 8 mm Austrodiaphana colei Fleming, 1948 Distribution : New Zealand Austrodiaphana flemingi Powell, 1952 Distribution : New Zealand Austrodiaphana maunganuica Powell, 1952 Distribution : New Zealand Genus Colobocephalus Sars M., 1870 Colobocephalus costellatus, Sars M., 1870 Colobocephalus striatulus Monterosato ex Jeffreys, 1874 Distribution : Mediterranean Genus Colpodaspis M. Sars, 1870 (incertae sedis) The sole of the foot contains a gland that secretes a mucous fluid, which helps the little animal to stay attached to stems and algae. Colpodaspis punctata Clark, 1837 Distribution : Mediterranean Colpodaspis pusilla Sars, 1870 Distribution : Southern Norway, Great Britain, western Ireland Length : 5 mm Description : the bubble shell is completely enclosed by the mantle; two prominent rhinophores on the head, leading to a groove along each side of the head; right posterior siphon Colpodaspis thompsoni Brown, 1979 Distribution : tropical Indo-Pacific, Okinawa, Christmas Island Length : 3 mm Description : black sea slug with yellow warts on a white background; the mantle encloses the bubble-shaped fragile shell; there is a pair of enrolled rhinophores on the head; the eyes are the two black spots on the head, just in front of the shell; Genus Diaphana Brown, 1827 Diaphana abyssalis T. Schiøtte, 1998 Distribution : Western Atlantic Diaphana anderssoni H. Strebel, 1908 Distribution : South Georgia Diaphana caribaea Espinosa, J., J.Ortea & J.Magaña, 2001 Distribution : Cuba Length : 2 mm Diaphana cretica Distribution : Mediterranean Diaphana expansa (Jeffreys, 1864) Distribution : Norway to the Scilly Isles. Diaphana floridana Dall, 1927 Distribution : Georgia Length : 4 mm Diaphana globosa Lovén, 1846 Distribution : Scandinavia Length : 4 mm Diaphana haini Linse, K. & T. Schiøtte,