diff --git a/ants/core/ants_image_io.py b/ants/core/ants_image_io.py
index d6d34974..c88c5ac9 100644
--- a/ants/core/ants_image_io.py
+++ b/ants/core/ants_image_io.py
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def image_clone(image, pixeltype=None):
     image : ANTsImage
         image to clone
 
-    dtype : string (optional)
+    pixeltype : string (optional)
         new datatype for image
 
     Returns
@@ -460,8 +460,8 @@ def clone(image, pixeltype=None):
 
     Arguments
     ---------
-    dtype: string (optional)
-        if None, the dtype will be the same as the cloned ANTsImage. Otherwise,
+    pixeltype: string (optional)
+        if None, the pixeltype will be the same as the cloned ANTsImage. Otherwise,
         the data will be cast to this type. This can be a numpy type or an ITK
         type.
         Options:
@@ -478,7 +478,11 @@ def clone(image, pixeltype=None):
         pixeltype = image.pixeltype
 
     if pixeltype not in _supported_ptypes:
-        raise ValueError('Pixeltype %s not supported. Supported types are %s' % (pixeltype, _supported_ptypes))
+        # check if the pixeltype is a numpy type
+        if pixeltype in _supported_ntypes:
+            pixeltype =  _npy_to_itk_map[pixeltype]
+        else:
+            raise ValueError('Pixeltype %s not supported. Supported types are %s' % (pixeltype, _supported_ptypes))
 
     if image.has_components and (not image.is_rgb):
         comp_imgs = ants.split_channels(image)
diff --git a/tests/test_core_ants_image.py b/tests/test_core_ants_image.py
index a8b5f6f4..b63fb699 100644
--- a/tests/test_core_ants_image.py
+++ b/tests/test_core_ants_image.py
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ def setUp(self):
         img2d = ants.image_read(ants.get_ants_data('r16'))
         img3d = ants.image_read(ants.get_ants_data('mni'))
         self.imgs = [img2d, img3d]
-        self.pixeltypes = ['unsigned char', 'unsigned int', 'float']
+        self.pixeltypes = ['unsigned char', 'unsigned int', 'float', 'double']
+        self.numpy_pixeltypes = ['uint8', 'uint32', 'float32', 'float64']
 
     def tearDown(self):
         pass
@@ -138,10 +139,10 @@ def test_clone(self):
         #self.setUp()
         for img in self.imgs:
             orig_ptype = img.pixeltype
-            for ptype in self.pixeltypes:
+            for ptype in [*self.pixeltypes, *self.numpy_pixeltypes]:
                 imgclone = img.clone(ptype)
 
-                self.assertEqual(imgclone.pixeltype, ptype)
+                self.assertIn(ptype, [imgclone.dtype, imgclone.pixeltype])
                 self.assertEqual(img.pixeltype, orig_ptype)
                 # test physical space consistency
                 self.assertTrue(ants.image_physical_space_consistency(img, imgclone))
@@ -530,7 +531,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         img2d = ants.image_read(ants.get_ants_data('r16')).clone('float')
         img3d = ants.image_read(ants.get_ants_data('mni')).clone('float')
         self.imgs = [img2d, img3d]
-        self.pixeltypes = ['unsigned char', 'unsigned int', 'float']
+        self.pixeltypes = ['unsigned char', 'unsigned int', 'float', 'double']
 
     def tearDown(self):
         pass