Some authors place this genus in a separate family Dolabriferidae.

A new study, published in September 2004,[1] has shown that the genus Petalifera is paraphyletic.

(Note: Gastropod taxonomy has been in flux for more than half a century, and this is especially true currently, because of new research in molecular phylogeny.

A more general description can be found on the page of the superfamily Aplysioidea.

These sea hares swim by coiling and uncoiling the body.