The
sculpture of the
shell of Epitonium scalare has raised ribs that are known as costae. Costae are an almost universal feature in shells of Epitonium species.
The common name wentletraps is derived from the
Dutch word wenteltrap, denoting a
spiral staircase. This refers to the striking form and sculpture of the shells of the mollusks in this genus, and to a lesser extent, the whole family.
The genus Epitonium has been divided in the past by some authors into several
subgenera, but these subgenera were based only on shell characters and did not reflect the true underlying relationships or
phylogeny.
Shell description
Epitonium shells are high-
spired, and are all-white in most of the species within this genus. A few species are tinted with brown to varying degrees, or have a brown stripe on the shoulder of the whorl. The shells typically have blade-like vertical ribs, known as costae.
These snails are predators and feed by inserting their
proboscis and biting out small pieces of the anemone's tissues. Some species of wentletrap feed on only one species of sea anemone, in other words they are species-specific in terms of their prey.
Synonymised genera
Many species that now are placed in the genus Epitonium have, over the years, been classified in other genera. These have become synonyms of Epitonium :[1]
Epitonium (Hyaloscala) de Boury, 1889 · accepted, alternate representation
Epitonium (Papyriscala) de Boury, 1909 accepted, alternate representation
Evolutiscala de Boury, 1909
Firmiscala de Boury, 1909
Folaceiscala de Boury, 1912
Foliaceiscala de Boury, 1912
Foraceiscala de Boury, 1911
Foveoscala de Boury, 1909
Fragiliscala Azuma, 1962
Fusicoscala Monterosato, 1890
Glabriscala de Boury, 1909
Graciliscala de Boury, 1909
Gradatiscala de Boury, 1909
Gyroscala (Fragiliscala) Azuma, 1962
Hirtoscala Monterosato, 1890
Hyaloscala de Boury, 1890
Innesiscala Jousseaume, 1912
Janthoscala Mörch, 1875
Labeoscala de Boury, 1912
Laeviscala de Boury, 1909
Lamelliscala de Boury, 1909
Lepidiscala de Boury, 1909
Limiscala de Boury, 1909
Limniscala Dollfus, 1913
Linctoscala Monterosato, 1890
Lineoscala de Boury, 1909
Mazescala Iredale, 1936
Melanopsis Férussac, 1807
Minutiscala de Boury, 1909
Nipponoscala Masahito & Habe, 1973
Nitidiscala de Boury, 1909
Nitidoscala Strong, 1930
Papyriscala de Boury, 1909
Parviscala de Boury, 1887
Perlucidiscala de Boury, 1912
Pudentiscala Iredale, 1938
Pupiscala Masahito, Kuroda & Habe, 1971
Resticuliscala Cossmann, 1912
Reticuliscala de Boury, 1909
Scala Mörch, 1852
Scala (Innesiscala) de Boury in Jousseaume, 1912
Scala (Perlucidiscala) de Boury in Jousseaume, 1912
Scalaria Lamarck, 1801
Scalaria (Parviscala) de Boury, 1887
Scalarus Montfort, 1810 (Unjustified emendation of Scalaria)
Scalatarius Duméril, 1806
Sodaliscala de Boury, 1909
Sphaeroscala Monterosato, 1890
Spiniscala de Boury, 1909
Turbiniscala de Boury, 1909
Viciniscala de Boury, 1909
Species
Species within the genus Epitonium include:
Note: Some malacologists have recently placed many of the more than 600 named species into other genera, which were previously considered to be subgenera of the genus Epitonium. On the other hand, many species that belonged to subgenera of Epitonium are now included in Epitonium. These subgenera were based on details of the shell sculpture and not on molecular analysis.
Wentletrap, an article about the family Epitoniidae.
References
^
abBouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Epitonium Röding, 1798. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137943 on 2010-11-22
Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (eds), European Register of Marine Species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines Naturels. 50: 180-213.
The
sculpture of the
shell of Epitonium scalare has raised ribs that are known as costae. Costae are an almost universal feature in shells of Epitonium species.
The common name wentletraps is derived from the
Dutch word wenteltrap, denoting a
spiral staircase. This refers to the striking form and sculpture of the shells of the mollusks in this genus, and to a lesser extent, the whole family.
The genus Epitonium has been divided in the past by some authors into several
subgenera, but these subgenera were based only on shell characters and did not reflect the true underlying relationships or
phylogeny.
Shell description
Epitonium shells are high-
spired, and are all-white in most of the species within this genus. A few species are tinted with brown to varying degrees, or have a brown stripe on the shoulder of the whorl. The shells typically have blade-like vertical ribs, known as costae.
These snails are predators and feed by inserting their
proboscis and biting out small pieces of the anemone's tissues. Some species of wentletrap feed on only one species of sea anemone, in other words they are species-specific in terms of their prey.
Synonymised genera
Many species that now are placed in the genus Epitonium have, over the years, been classified in other genera. These have become synonyms of Epitonium :[1]
Epitonium (Hyaloscala) de Boury, 1889 · accepted, alternate representation
Epitonium (Papyriscala) de Boury, 1909 accepted, alternate representation
Evolutiscala de Boury, 1909
Firmiscala de Boury, 1909
Folaceiscala de Boury, 1912
Foliaceiscala de Boury, 1912
Foraceiscala de Boury, 1911
Foveoscala de Boury, 1909
Fragiliscala Azuma, 1962
Fusicoscala Monterosato, 1890
Glabriscala de Boury, 1909
Graciliscala de Boury, 1909
Gradatiscala de Boury, 1909
Gyroscala (Fragiliscala) Azuma, 1962
Hirtoscala Monterosato, 1890
Hyaloscala de Boury, 1890
Innesiscala Jousseaume, 1912
Janthoscala Mörch, 1875
Labeoscala de Boury, 1912
Laeviscala de Boury, 1909
Lamelliscala de Boury, 1909
Lepidiscala de Boury, 1909
Limiscala de Boury, 1909
Limniscala Dollfus, 1913
Linctoscala Monterosato, 1890
Lineoscala de Boury, 1909
Mazescala Iredale, 1936
Melanopsis Férussac, 1807
Minutiscala de Boury, 1909
Nipponoscala Masahito & Habe, 1973
Nitidiscala de Boury, 1909
Nitidoscala Strong, 1930
Papyriscala de Boury, 1909
Parviscala de Boury, 1887
Perlucidiscala de Boury, 1912
Pudentiscala Iredale, 1938
Pupiscala Masahito, Kuroda & Habe, 1971
Resticuliscala Cossmann, 1912
Reticuliscala de Boury, 1909
Scala Mörch, 1852
Scala (Innesiscala) de Boury in Jousseaume, 1912
Scala (Perlucidiscala) de Boury in Jousseaume, 1912
Scalaria Lamarck, 1801
Scalaria (Parviscala) de Boury, 1887
Scalarus Montfort, 1810 (Unjustified emendation of Scalaria)
Scalatarius Duméril, 1806
Sodaliscala de Boury, 1909
Sphaeroscala Monterosato, 1890
Spiniscala de Boury, 1909
Turbiniscala de Boury, 1909
Viciniscala de Boury, 1909
Species
Species within the genus Epitonium include:
Note: Some malacologists have recently placed many of the more than 600 named species into other genera, which were previously considered to be subgenera of the genus Epitonium. On the other hand, many species that belonged to subgenera of Epitonium are now included in Epitonium. These subgenera were based on details of the shell sculpture and not on molecular analysis.
Wentletrap, an article about the family Epitoniidae.
References
^
abBouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Epitonium Röding, 1798. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137943 on 2010-11-22
Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (eds), European Register of Marine Species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines Naturels. 50: 180-213.