Cardavia cathleenae was named by Kříž (2005). Its type specimen is MGM 3558ab, a shell (internal mould of right valve and its counterpart), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Section north-west of the El Pobo de Dueñas, which is in a Telychian coastal shale in the Bádenas Formation of Spain. It is the type species of Cardavia.