The genera Balabania Karacabey-Öztemür, Branislavia Sladić-Trifunović and Klinghardtites Lupu have previously been referred to as three new canaliculate radiolitid taxa. Well-preserved articulated shells of these rudist genera collected from eastern Turkey, Serbia and western Romania have now been re-examined and compared with the rudist literature. They have pallial canals in the originally aragonitic inner shell layer of the left valve flanking the cardinal apparatus and a long ligamental ridge, which are the diagnostic characteristics of Colveraia Klinghardt. As a result, two species are recognised here, namely Colveraia acuticostata (Karacabey-Öztemür), encompassing all species of Balabania and Colveraia bacevicensis (Milovanović) for all species referred to Branislavia. Klinghardtites musculosus (Klinghardt) is herein regarded to be synonymous with Colveraia darendeensis Karacabey. The left valve of Colveraia acuticostata is cap like with an eccentric apex inclined gently or strongly towards the dorsal side and overlap with the commissure and has flat or rarely slightly concave radial bands. Colveraia bacevicensis is characterised by deeply concave radial bands, and longitudinal ribs and grooves of the right valve, both of which are crossed by strongly folded growth lines that overlap each other and present distinct undulations on the surface of the valve. Ornamentation of the valve and the structure of the radial bands distinguish them from Colveraia variabilis Klinghardt and C. darendeensis Karacabey. Our re-examination of specimens previously described as Balabania acuticostata Karacabey-Öztemür from eastern Serbia shows that these can be included in C. darendeensis. A biogeographical overview of species of Colveraia in the Mediterranean Tethys is presented. •The rudist bivalve genera Balabania Karacabey-Öztemür, 1980, Branislavia Sladić-Trifunović, 1981 and Klinghardtites Lupu, 1971 have been revised and their synonymy with Colveraia Klinghardt, 1921 proposed due to the presence of the pallial canals in the aragonitic inner shell layer of the left valve and a long ligamental ridge.•Two Colveraia species are recognized: C. acuticostata (Karacabey-Öztemür, 1980) for all Balabania specimens and C. bacevicensis (Milovanović) for all Branislavia specimens.•Klinghardtites Lupu, 1971 herein regarded as synonymous with Colveraia darendeensis Karacabey, 1974.•The re-examination of the specimens previously described as Balabania acuticostata Karacabey-Öztemür, 1980 from the Eastern Serbia are also included to C. darendeensis.•We review the palaeogeographical distribution of the species of Colveraia in the Mediterranean Tethys.