Epitonium genus of small predatory sea snails , marine gastropod mollusks . Epitonium is the type genus of the family Epitoniidae , the wentletraps .[1]
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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 .
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.
Wentletraps usually live in sand near sea anemones or corals .
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.
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]
Aciona Leach, 1815Acutiscala de Boury, 1909Amiciscala Jousseaume, 1912Anguliscala de Boury, 1909Asperiscala de Boury, 1909Avalitiscala de Boury, 1912Cinctiscala de Boury, 1909Cirratiscala de Boury, 1909)Clathrus Oken, 1815Connexiscala de Boury, 1909Crenuliscala Iredale, 1936Crisposcala de Boury, 1886Cyclostoma Lamarck, 1799Decussiscala de Boury, 1909Delicatiscala de Boury, 1909Dulciscala de Boury, 1909Eburniscala de Boury, 1909Epitonium (Asperiscala) de Boury, 1909Epitonium (Clathrus )Epitonium (Epitonium) Röding, 1798 · accepted, alternate representationEpitonium (Hyaloscala) de Boury, 1889 · accepted, alternate representationEpitonium (Papyriscala) de Boury, 1909 accepted, alternate representationEvolutiscala de Boury, 1909Firmiscala de Boury, 1909Folaceiscala de Boury, 1912Foliaceiscala de Boury, 1912Foraceiscala de Boury, 1911Foveoscala de Boury, 1909Fragiliscala Azuma, 1962Fusicoscala Monterosato, 1890Glabriscala de Boury, 1909Graciliscala de Boury, 1909Gradatiscala de Boury, 1909Gyroscala (Fragiliscala) Azuma, 1962Hirtoscala Monterosato, 1890Hyaloscala de Boury, 1890Innesiscala Jousseaume, 1912Janthoscala Mörch, 1875Labeoscala de Boury, 1912Laeviscala de Boury, 1909Lamelliscala de Boury, 1909Lepidiscala de Boury, 1909Limiscala de Boury, 1909Limniscala Dollfus, 1913Linctoscala Monterosato, 1890Lineoscala de Boury, 1909Mazescala Iredale, 1936Melanopsis Férussac, 1807Minutiscala de Boury, 1909Nipponoscala Masahito & Habe, 1973Nitidiscala de Boury, 1909Nitidoscala Strong, 1930Papyriscala de Boury, 1909Parviscala de Boury, 1887Perlucidiscala de Boury, 1912Pudentiscala Iredale, 1938Pupiscala Masahito, Kuroda & Habe, 1971Resticuliscala Cossmann, 1912Reticuliscala de Boury, 1909Scala Mörch, 1852Scala (Innesiscala) de Boury in Jousseaume, 1912 Scala (Perlucidiscala) de Boury in Jousseaume, 1912Scalaria Lamarck, 1801Scalaria (Parviscala) de Boury, 1887Scalarus Montfort, 1810 (Unjustified emendation of Scalaria )Scalatarius Duméril, 1806Sodaliscala de Boury, 1909Sphaeroscala Monterosato, 1890Spiniscala de Boury, 1909Turbiniscala de Boury, 1909Viciniscala de Boury, 1909
Epitonium hexagonum Epitonium irregulare 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.
Epitonium abyssicola Epitonium acanthopleurum Epitonium acapulcanum Epitonium actinariophilum Epitonium aculeatum Epitonium adjunctum Epitonium aequale Epitonium agitabile Epitonium alabiforme Epitonium alatum Epitonium albidum (d'Orbigny , 1842) - bladed wentletrapEpitonium albolineatum Epitonium algerianum (Weinkauff, 1866) Epitonium alizonum Epitonium amathusium Epitonium amicum Epitonium amiculum Epitonium amplexus Epitonium anabathmos Epitonium ancillotoi Epitonium angulatum (Say , 1830) - angulate wentletrapEpitonium angulicinctum Epitonium antisoa Epitonium apiculatum (Dall , 1889) - semismooth wentletrapEpitonium aranea Epitonium arcanum Epitonium artimi Epitonium atomus Epitonium attenuatum Epitonium audouini Epitonium aureomaculatum Epitonium auritum Epitonium austrocaledonicum Epitonium avalites Epitonium babylonium (Dall , 1889) - tower wentletrapEpitonium barissum Epitonium beachportense Epitonium bellastriatum Epitonium bellicosum Epitonium bengalense Epitonium bevdeynzerae Epitonium blainei Epitonium bonaespei Epitonium bouryi Epitonium boutetorum Epitonium brachyspeira Epitonium brevissimum Seguenza , 1876)Epitonium bucknilli Powell , 1924Epitonium bulbulum Sowerby II , 1844)Epitonium bullatum Epitonium caamanoi Epitonium calideum Epitonium californicum Epitonium callipeplum Epitonium candeanum Epitonium candidissimum Epitonium canna Epitonium cantrainei Epitonium carchedon Epitonium castum Epitonium catalinae Epitonium catalinense Epitonium catanuense Epitonium celesti Epitonium cerdantum Epitonium championi Epitonium chiarae Epitonium chinglinae Epitonium christiani Bozzetti, 2008Epitonium christyi Epitonium clathratulum Epitonium clathrus Linnaeus , 1758 Epitonium clementinum Epitonium climacotum Epitonium columba Epitonium columnella Epitonium commodum Epitonium commutatum Epitonium conjunctum Epitonium connexum Epitonium continens Epitonium cookeanum Epitonium cophinodes Epitonium coretum Epitonium corniculum Epitonium coronatum Lamarck, 1816: synonym of Gyroscala coronata Epitonium coutieri Epitonium couturieri Epitonium crassicostatum Epitonium crassilabrum Epitonium crassum Epitonium creberrimum Epitonium crebricostatum Epitonium crispatum Epitonium crypticorona Epitonium cultellicostum Epitonium cumingii Epitonium curvilineatum Epitonium dallianum Epitonium deflersi Epitonium deificum Epitonium denticulatum Sowerby II , 1844) tooth-rib wentletrapEpitonium dentiscalpium Epitonium deschampsi Epitonium dubium Epitonium duocamurum Epitonium durhamianum Epitonium eboreum Epitonium eclecticum Epitonium elenense Epitonium elisae Epitonium eltanini Epitonium emiliae Epitonium emydonesus Epitonium erroneum Epitonium eulita Epitonium eusculptum Sowerby III , 1903)Epitonium eutaenium Epitonium evanidstriatum Epitonium eximiellum Epitonium eximium Epitonium extenuicostum Epitonium fabrizioi Epitonium falconi Epitonium fasciatum Epitonium fauroti Epitonium fenestratum Epitonium ferminense Epitonium ferrugineum Epitonium ferussacii Epitonium fischeri Epitonium foliaceicosta Epitonium fractum Epitonium fragile Epitonium friabile Epitonium frielei Epitonium fucatum Epitonium fulvovittatum Epitonium georgettinum Epitonium glabratum Epitonium gloriolum Epitonium godfreyi Epitonium goldsmithi Epitonium goniophorum Epitonium gracile Epitonium graciliconfusum Epitonium gradaticostatum Epitonium gradatum Epitonium gradilis Epitonium graviarmatum Epitonium gravieri Epitonium greenlandicum Epitonium habeli Epitonium hamatulae Epitonium hancocki Epitonium harimaense Epitonium harpa Epitonium harpago Epitonium hartogi Epitonium hayashii Epitonium heloris Epitonium hemmesi Epitonium hexagonum Epitonium hindsii Epitonium hispidulum Epitonium histricosum Epitonium hoeksemai Gittenberger, A., Goud & Gittenberger, E., 2000: synonym of Epifungium hoeksemai Epitonium hueti Epitonium huffmani Epitonium humerosum Sowerby III , 1901)Epitonium humphreysii Epitonium hyalinum Epitonium idalium Epitonium ilariae Epitonium illovoense Epitonium immaculatum Sowerby II , 1844)Epitonium imperiale Epitonium inaequale Epitonium indianorum Epitonium indistinctum Epitonium inexpertum Epitonium ingridae Epitonium innesi Epitonium interstriatum Epitonium irregulare Epitonium ishimotoi Epitonium jani Epitonium japonicum Epitonium jickelii Epitonium jimpyae Epitonium jolyi Epitonium jomardi Epitonium jousseaumei Epitonium juanitae Epitonium jukesianum Epitonium kastoroae Epitonium kazusense Epitonium kilburni Epitonium kiyohimae Epitonium klunzingeri Epitonium koshimagani Epitonium koyamai Epitonium kraussi Epitonium krebsii Epitonium labeo Epitonium lachrymulum Epitonium lacrima Epitonium laidlawi Epitonium lamellosum Epitonium latedis Epitonium latifasciatum Sowerby II , 1874)Epitonium latum Epitonium leali Epitonium laxatoides Epitonium liliputanum Epitonium linctum Epitonium lineolatum Epitonium lochi Epitonium lowei Epitonium luceo Epitonium lyra Epitonium macleani Epitonium macromphalus Epitonium maestratii Epitonium malayanum Epitonium malcolmensis Epitonium malhaensis Epitonium maraisi Epitonium margarita Epitonium marmoratum Sowerby II , 1844)Epitonium matthewsae Epitonium melior Epitonium mellissi Epitonium melvilli Epitonium millecostatum Epitonium mindoroense Epitonium minorum Epitonium minutia Epitonium minuticostatum Epitonium mirabile Epitonium miserum Epitonium mitraeforme Epitonium moolenbeeki Epitonium morassii Epitonium mucronatum Epitonium multicostatum Epitonium multistriatum Epitonium mzambanum Epitonium nanum Epitonium nautlae Epitonium nearense Epitonium nitidella Epitonium nodai Epitonium novangliae Epitonium obesum Sowerby II , 1847)Epitonium obliquum Epitonium obtusum Epitonium occidentale (Nyst, 1871) - fine-ribbed wentletrapEpitonium octagonum Epitonium okezoko Epitonium oliverioi Epitonium opeas Epitonium oppositum Epitonium optabile Epitonium ossium Epitonium ovale Epitonium padangense Epitonium pallasi Epitonium pallidizonatum Epitonium papyracea Epitonium parspeciosum Epitonium parvonatrix Epitonium pasiphaes Epitonium paumotense Epitonium perangustum Epitonium perfoliatum Epitonium perimense Epitonium perlucidum Epitonium philippinarum Sowerby II , 1844)Epitonium philtatum Epitonium phymanthi Epitonium pigrum Epitonium platypleurum (Verco, 1906)Epitonium polacia Epitonium politum Sowerby II , 1844)Epitonium porrectum Epitonium profundum Epitonium proximum Epitonium pseudonanum Epitonium psomion Epitonium pteroen Epitonium pulchellum Epitonium pulcherrimum Epitonium pupiforme Epitonium pyramidale Sowerby II , 1844)Epitonium quiquandoni Epitonium raricostatum Epitonium reflexum Epitonium regulare Epitonium repandior Epitonium repandum Epitonium replicatum Epitonium reticulatum Epitonium rhips Epitonium rimbogai Epitonium rissoinaeforme Epitonium robillardi Epitonium rubrolineatum Epitonium rupicola Epitonium sakuraii Epitonium sallykaicherae Epitonium sanctaehelenae Epitonium sandwichense Epitonium santinii Epitonium savignyi Epitonium sawamurai Epitonium sawinae Epitonium scalare Linnaeus , 1758 )Epitonium schepmani Epitonium schoedei Epitonium semidisjunctum Epitonium sericifila Epitonium sexcostum Epitonium shyorum Epitonium simplex Epitonium skoglundae Epitonium smithii Epitonium smriglioi Epitonium soroastrae Epitonium sousai Epitonium sowerbyanum Epitonium sowerbyi Epitonium spyridion Epitonium stigmaticum Epitonium striatellum Epitonium striatissimum Epitonium subauriculatum Epitonium subcastum Epitonium subtile Epitonium suprastriatum Epitonium sykesii Epitonium symmetricum Epitonium synekhes Epitonium syoichiroi Epitonium tabogense Epitonium tacitum Epitonium taiwanica Epitonium tamsinae Epitonium tenebrosum Epitonium tenellum Epitonium tenerum Epitonium tenue Epitonium tenuicostatum Epitonium tenuiliratum Sowerby II , 1874)Epitonium tenuipicturatum Epitonium terebriforme Epitonium textimattum Epitonium texturatum Epitonium thelcterium Epitonium thorssoni Epitonium thrasys Epitonium thyraeum Epitonium tiberii Epitonium tiburonense Epitonium tinctorium Epitonium tinctum Epitonium tokyoense Epitonium tollini Epitonium tomlini Epitonium townsendi Epitonium trevelyanum Epitonium trochiforme Epitonium trochoides Epitonium tryoni Epitonium tumidulum Epitonium turritellula Epitonium turtonis Epitonium twilae Epitonium umbilicatum Epitonium unifasciatum Sowerby II , 1844) - one-band wentletrapEpitonium vaillanti Epitonium vallatum Epitonium venosum Sowerby II , 1844)Epitonium viaderi Epitonium vittatum Epitonium vivens Epitonium walkerianum Epitonium webbii Epitonium willetti Epitonium worsfoldi Epitonium xenicima Epitonium yamakawana Epitonium yangi Epitonium yemenita Epitonium yokoyamai Epitonium zabargadense Epitonium zatrephes Epitonium zeteki
Subgenera and species brought into synonymy Epitonium (Asperiscala) de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798 Epitonium (Boreoscala) Kobelt, 1902 : synonym of Boreoscala Kobelt, 1902 Epitonium (Clathrus) : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798 Epitonium (Kiiscala) Nakayama, 1995 : synonym of Cycloscala Dall, 1889 Epitonium delicatulum (Adams H., 1869): synonym of Epitonium tenerum
Wentletrap , an article about the family Epitoniidae.
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