Scala Mörch, 1852 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Sagamiscala Masahito, Kuroda & Habe, 1971 : synonym of Globiscala de Boury, 1909.Nystiella Clench & Turner, 1952 : synonym of Opaliopsis Thiele, 1928.Nodiscala de Boury 1889 : synonym of Opalia H.Nipponoscala Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1973 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Mazescala Iredale 1936 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Lampropalia Kuroda & Ito, 1961 : synonym of Cylindriscala de Boury, 1909.Glabriscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Fragilopalia Azuma 1972 : synonym of Amaea H.Fragiliscala Azuma 1962 : synonym of Amaea H.Foliaceiscala de Boury 1912 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Dannevigena Iredale 1936 : synonym of Cirsotrema Mörch, 1852.Compressiscala Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1976 : synonym of Gregorioiscala Cossmann, 1912.Clathrus Oken 1815 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Clathroscala de Boury 1889 : synonym of Amaea H.Cirratiscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Cinctiscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Asperiscala de Boury, 1909.Asperiscala de Boury, 1909: synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Amiciscala Jousseaume 1912 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Acutiscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798.Varicopalia Kuroda MS, 1960 ( nomen nudum).Boreoscala Kobelt, 1902 (possibly a synonym of Cirsotrema).Genera within the family Epitoniidae include: The young emerge from these capsules as free-swimming larvae. These snails also prey on corals and other coelenterates.įemale wentletraps lay egg capsules that are bound together with a supple string. Keen also cited direct observation of a wentletrap feeding by insertion of its proboscis into a sea anemone.Ī sequence of a wentletrap feeding on an anemone has been published. The animal can exude through its salivary gland a pink or purplish dye that may have an anaesthetic effect on its prey. He observed that many wentletraps reveal a hint of purple body color, suggestive of carnivorous feeding. Keen (1958) has his literature most cited. Little is known about the biology of most wentletraps. Some species are foragers and search for anemones. Wentletraps are usually found on sandy bottoms near sea anemones or corals, which serve as a food source for them. These costae may offer some protection against other predatory snails, which would find it difficult or impossible to bore a hole in a shell with such obstructions.

Within the genus Epitonium, the type genus of the family, the shell has predominantly axial sculpture of high, sharply ribbed 'costae'. Most of the species in the family are small to minute, although some are larger, and overall the adult shell length in the family varies between 0.6 and 11.7 cm. The round and horny operculum is paucispiral and fits the aperture tightly. Wentletrap shells have a roundish or oval aperture, but its inner lip is often reduced to strip of callus. The shells sometimes feature an umbilicus. Fine or microscopic spiral sculpture (also called 'striae') is present in many species. The more or less turret-shaped shell consists of tightly-wound (sometimes loosely coiled), convex whorls, which create a high, conical spiral. They are notable for their intricately geometric shell architecture, and the shells of the larger species are prized by collectors. Most species of wentletrap are white, and have a porcelain-like appearance. Wentletraps inhabit all seas and oceans worldwide, from the tropical zones to the Arctic and Antarctic zones. Įpitoniidae is a rather large family, with an estimated number of species about 630. Since 2017 this family also includes the former families Janthinidae (the pelagic purple snails) and Nystiellidae, all part of the informal group Ptenoglossa.

The family Epitoniidae belongs to the superfamily Epitonioidea. These snails are sometimes also called 'staircase shells', and 'ladder shells'. The word wentletrap originated in Dutch ( wenteltrap), and it means spiral staircase. Wentletraps are small, often white, very high- spired, predatory or ecto parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae. Recluziidae Iredale & McMichael, 1962 (nomen nudum).Iodeidae Leach, 1847 (unavailable name).The nomenclaturally valid name is Janthinidae, but the spelling Ianthinidae has remained sporadically in use throughout the 20th century.) Ianthinidae ( 19th century authors used indifferently the spellings Janthina / Ianthina and Janthinidae / Ianthinidae.

Epitonium tincta