Inflexed Cavoline

Like other thecosome pteropods, Cavolinia inflexa form an aggronite shell to surround their body. As a result, they have been found to be highly sensitive to ocean acidification and the constantly changing water column's chemical composition. Cavolinia inflexa are found to be between 2-8 millimeters in length, and have a length to width ratio between 0.51 and 0.81. Additionally, they have a straight shell, their posterior tip bent upwards, and a bilaterally symmetrical structure.

Cavolinia inflexa are a common thecosome pteropod found worldwide in warm waters between 55° N to 45° S. They are filter feeders as is typical among Pteropoda. Their diet consists of marine snow–organic matter that is suspended in the water column. Cavolinia inflexa were initially believed to be multiple subspecies, but later studies show that the species does not exhibit enough regional variation to have categorical subspecies. Cavolinia inflexa live in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, but there is not significant geographical variation. Climate change may pose a threat to Cavolinia inflexa as ocean acidification has been shown to impact larval development. In particular, ocean acidification prevents the formation of their shells, leaving the organism vulnerable to predation. One study found a significant decrease in shell density among Cavolinia inflexa between 1910 and 2012.

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Cavolinia inflexa move throughout depths in response to where the largest concentration of food is, as it reacts to the vertical migration patterns expressed by zooplankton. However, they are mostly found floating in the epipelagic zone of the ocean. Their vertical migration is also in response to a diurnal cycle. They feed by ingesting their captured prey that has been snared by their mucus feedings webs. After 1-3 minutes they can completely consume and digest their snared prey.