Overview
Wentletraps are small, often white, very high-spired, predatory or ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, in the family Epitoniidae.1]
The word wentletrap originated in Dutch (wenteltrap), and it means spiral staircase. These snails are sometimes also called "staircase shells", and "ladder shells".
The Epitoniidae family belongs to the superfamily Epitonioidea, which also includes the Janthinidae (the pelagic purple snails) and the family Nystiellidae, all part of the informal group Ptenoglossa. It is a rather large family with an estimated number of species over 630.[2]
Distribution
Wentletraps inhabit all seas and oceans worldwide, from the tropical zones to the Arctic and Antarct ic zones.
Shell description
Wentletraps are notable for their intricately geometric shell architecture. The more or less turret-shaped shell consists of tightly-wound (sometimes loosely coiled), convex whorls which create a high, conical spiral. Spiral ribs (also called "striae") often occur. These shells often contain an umbilicus. The shells have a roundish or oval aperture, but its inner lip is often reduced to strip of callus. The round and horny operculum is paucispiral and fits the aperture tightly. Most species are small to minute with length between 0.6 and 11.7 cm.[3]
Within the genus Epitonium the shell has high, sharply ribbed sculpture with predominantly axial sculpture, known as "costae". These offer some protection against other predatory snails who find it hard to bore a hole in such a shell.
Most species of wentletrap are white, and have a porcelain-like appearance. These shells are prized by collectors.
Ecology
Wentletraps are usually found usually on sandy bottoms near sea anemones or corals, which serve as a food source for them. Some species are foragers and search for anemones.
Little is known about the biology of most wentletraps. Many wentletraps reveal a hint of purple body color, suggestive of carnivorous feeding (Keen, 1958). The animal can exude through its salivary gland a pink or purplish dye that may have an anaesthetic effect on its prey.
Keen also cited direct observation of a wentletrap feeding by insertion of its proboscis into a sea anemone. These snails also prey on corals and other coelenterates.
Female wentletraps lay egg capsules that are bound together with a supple string. The young emerge from these capsules as free-swimming larv ae.
Genera
Genera within the family Epitoniidae include:[1]
- Acirsa M?rch, 1857
- Acrilla H. Adams, 1860
- Acrilloscala Sacco 1891
- Alexania Strand, 1928
- Alora (H. Adams, 1861)
- Amaea H. & A. Adams, 1853
- Asperiscala de Boury, 1909
- Berthais Melvill, 1904 [citation needed]
- Boreoscala Kobelt, 1902 (possibly a synonym of Cirsotrema)[4]
- Chuniscala Thiele, 1928
- Cingulacirsa Higo & Goto, 1993
- Cirsotrema M?rch, 1852
- Claviscala de Boury, 1909
- Compressiscala Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1976
- Constantia Adams 1860 [citation needed]
- Couthouyella Bartsch 1909
- Crebriscala de Boury, 1909
- Cycloscala Dall, 1889 <:small>
- Cylindriscala de Boury, 1909
- Depressiscala de Boury 1909
- Ecclesiogyra Dall, 1892 [citation needed]
- Eglisia Gray, 1842
- Epidendrium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- Epifungium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Foratiscala de Boury 1887
- Funiscala de Boury, 1890
- Globiscala de Boury, 1909
- Gregorioscala Cossman, 1912
- Gyroscala de Boury, 1887
- Iphitus Rafinesque 1815 [citation needed]
- Kurodacirsa Masahito & Habe, 1975
- Minabescala Nakayama, 1994
- Murdochella Finlay, 1927 [citation needed]
- Narrimania Taviani, 1984[citation needed]
- Narvaliscala Iredale, 1936
- Nodiscala de Boury 1889
- Obstopalia Iredale, 1936
- Opalia H. & A. Adams, 1853
- Papuliscala de Boury, 1909 [citation needed]
- Periapta Bouchet & Waren, 1986
- Plastiscala Iredale, 1936
- Problitora Iredale, 1931
- Punctiscala Philippi, 1844
- Rutelliscala Kilburn, 1985
- Sagamiscala Masahito, Kuroda & Habe, 1971
- Sthenorhytis Conrad 1862
- Surrepifungium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- Tasmalira Dell 1956 [citation needed]
- Variciscala de Boury, 1909
- Varicopalia Kuroda MS, 1960 (nomen nudum)
- Acutiscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Amiciscala Jousseaume 1912 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Cinctiscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Asperiscala de Boury, 1909
- Cirratiscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Clathroscala de Boury 1889 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Clathrus Oken 1815 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Dannevigena Iredale 1936 : synonym of Cirsotrema M?rch, 1852
- Foliaceiscala de Boury 1912 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Fragiliscala Azuma 1962 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- FragilopaliaAzuma 1972 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Glabriscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Lampropalia Kuroda & Ito, 1961 : synonym of Cylindriscala de Boury, 1909
- Mazescala Iredale 1936 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Nipponoscala Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1973 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Nystiella Clench & Turner, 1952 : synonym of Opaliopsis Thiele, 1928
- Scala M?rch, 1852 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Scalina Conrad, 1865 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Spiniscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Turbiniscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Viciniscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
Ecology
Wentletraps are usually found usually on sandy bottoms near sea anemones or corals, which serve as a food source for them. Some species are foragers and search for anemones.
Little is known about the biology of most wentletraps. Many wentletraps reveal a hint of purple body color, suggestive of carnivorous feeding (Keen, 1958). The animal can exude through its salivary gland a pink or purplish dye that may have an anaesthetic effect on its prey.
Keen also cited direct observation of a wentletrap feeding by insertion of its proboscis into a sea anemone. Th ese snails also prey on corals and other coelenterates.
Female wentletraps lay egg capsules that are bound together with a supple string. The young emerge from these capsules as free-swimming larvae.
Genera
Genera within the family Epitoniidae include:[1]
- Acirsa M?rch, 1857
- Acrilla H. Adams, 1860
- Acrilloscala Sacco 1891
- Alexania Strand, 1928
- Alora (H. Adams, 1861)
- Amaea H. & A. Adams, 1853
- Asperiscala de Boury, 1909
- Berthais Melvill, 1904 [citation needed]
- Boreoscala Kobelt, 1902 (possibly a synonym of Cirsotrema)[4]
- Chuniscala Thiele, 1928
- Cingulacirsa Higo & Goto, 1993
- Cirsotrema M?rch, 1852
- Claviscala de Boury, 1909
- Compressiscala Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1976
- Constantia Adams 1860 [citation needed]
- Couthouyella Bartsch 1909
- Crebriscala de Boury, 1909
- Cycloscala Dall, 1889 <:small>
- Cylindriscala de Boury, 1909
- Depressiscala de Boury 1909
- Ecclesiogyra Dall, 1892 [citation needed]
- Eglisia Gray, 1842
- Epidendrium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- Epifungium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Foratiscala de Boury 1887
- Funiscala de Boury, 1890
- Globiscala de Boury, 1909
- Gregorioscala Cossman, 1912
- Gyroscala de Boury, 1887
- Iphitus Rafinesque 1815 [citation needed]
- Kurodacirsa Masahito & Habe, 1975
- Minabescala Nakayama, 1994
- Murdochella Finlay, 1927 [citation needed]
- Narrimania Taviani, 1984[citation needed]
- Narvaliscala Iredale, 1936
- Nodiscala de Boury 1889
- Obstopalia Iredale, 1936
- Opalia H. & A. Adams, 1853
- Papuliscala de Boury, 1909 [citation needed]
- Periapta Bouchet & Waren, 1986
- Plastiscala Iredale, 1936
- Problitora Iredale, 1931
- Punctiscala Philippi, 1844
- Rutelliscala Kilburn, 1985
- Sagamiscala Masahito, Kuroda & Habe, 1971
- Sthenorhytis Conrad 1862
- Surrepifungium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- Tasmalira Dell 1956 [citation needed]
- Variciscala de Boury, 1909
- Varicopalia Kuroda MS, 1960 (nomen nudum)
- Acutiscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Amiciscala Jousseaume 1912 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Cinctiscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Asperiscala de Boury, 1909
- Cirratiscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Clathroscala de Boury 1889 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Clathrus Oken 1815 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Dannevigena Iredale 1936 : synonym of Cirsotrema M?rch, 1852
- Foliaceiscala de Boury 1912 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Fragiliscala Azuma 1962 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- FragilopaliaAzuma 1972 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Glabriscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Lampropalia Kuroda & Ito, 1961 : synonym of Cylindriscala de Boury, 1909
- Mazescala Iredale 1936 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Nipponoscala Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1973 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Nystiella Clench & Turner, 1952 : synonym of Opaliopsis Thiele, 1928
- Scala M?rch, 1852 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Scalina Conrad, 1865 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Spiniscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Turbiniscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
- Viciniscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium R?ding, 1798
References
- ^ a b c d Gofas, S. (2010). Epitoniidae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Ac cessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=132 on 24 April 2011
- ^ Art Weil (1999). "Conchologists of America List". University of Georgia. http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9901c&L=conch-l&O=A&P=18073. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ^ J. Wyatt Durham (1937). "Gastropods of the family Epitoniidae from mesozoid and Cenozoic rocks of the West Coast of North America". Journal of Paleontology 11 (6): 479?512. JSTOR 1298354.
- ^ "Conchologists of America List". University of Georgia. 1999. http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9908a&L=conch-l&F=&S=&P=1441. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
Taxonomy
The Family Epitoniidae is a member of the Superfamily Epitonioidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Epitoniidae:
- Domain: Eukaryota
Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Animalia
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Branch: Protostomia
Grobben, 1908 - protostomes
- Infrakingdom: Lophotrochozoa
- Lophotrochozoans
- Superphylum: Eutrochozoa
- Phylum: Mollusca
(C. Linnaeus, 1758) Cuvier, 1795 - Molluscs
- Class: Gastropoda
Cuvier, 1795 - Snails and Slugs
- Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Ponder & Lindberg, 1996
- Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Cox, 1960
- Order: Sorbeoconcha
Ponder & Lindberg, 1997
- Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Ponder & Lindberg, 1997
- Infraorder: Ptenoglossa
J.E. Gray, 1853
- Superfamily: Epitonioidea
S.S. Berry, 1910 (1812)
- Family: Epitoniidae S.S. Berry, 1910 (1812) - Wentletraps
- Superfamily: Epitonioidea
S.S. Berry, 1910 (1812)
- Infraorder: Ptenoglossa
J.E. Gray, 1853
- Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Ponder & Lindberg, 1997
- Order: Sorbeoconcha
Ponder & Lindberg, 1997
- Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Cox, 1960
- Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Ponder & Lindberg, 1996
- Class: Gastropoda
Cuvier, 1795 - Snails and Slugs
- Phylum: Mollusca
(C. Linnaeus, 1758) Cuvier, 1795 - Molluscs
- Superphylum: Eutrochozoa
- Infrakingdom: Lophotrochozoa
- Lophotrochozoans
- Branch: Protostomia
Grobben, 1908 - protostomes
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Kingdom: Animalia
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
The Family Epitoniidae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Genus (56): Aciculiscala · Acirsa · Acrilla · Acrilloscala · Alexania · Alora · Amaea · Asperiscala · Boreoscala · Cirsotrema · Clathroscala · Claviscala · Compressiscala · Confusiscala · Couthouyella · Cycloscala · Cylindriscala · Depressiscala · Eccliseogyra · Eglisia · Epitonium · Foratiscala · Fragiliscala · Funiscala · Glabriscala · Gregorioiscala · Gyroscala · Hirtoscala · Iphitus · Lampropalia · Mazescala · Microliotia · Murdochella · Narvaliscala · Nitidiscala · Nodiscala · Nystiella · Opalia · Opaliopsis · Papuliscala · Periapta · Plastiscala · Pseudoclaviscala · Punctiscala · Scalaria · Scalina · Scrobs · Spiniscala · Stenorytis · Sthenorytis · Striaticostatum · Tasmalira · Turriscala · Variciscala · Viciniscala · Vitta
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 744 species and subspecies in the Family Epitoniidae.
Genera
Aciculiscala
Acirsa
Acirsa is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps. [more]
Acrilla
Acrilloscala
Alexania
Alex?nia is a small town and municipality in central Goi?s state, Brazil. Alex?nia is known for its alleged extraterrestrial sightings in the late sixties and early seventies. (See below) The Areias River passes through the municipality. [more]
Alora
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Amaea
Asperiscala
Boreoscala
Cirsotrema
Cirsostrema is a genus of very small deepwater sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as the wentletraps. [more]
Clathroscala
Claviscala
Compressiscala
Confusiscala
Couthouyella
Cycloscala
Cylindriscala
Depressiscala
Eccliseogyra
Eglisia
Epitonium
Epitonium is a genus of small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. Epitonium is the type genus of the family Epitoniidae, the wentletraps. [more]
Foratiscala
Fragiliscala
Funiscala
Glabriscala
Gregorioiscala
Gyroscala
Hirtoscala
Iphitus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Lampropalia
Mazescala
Microliotia
Murdochella
Narvaliscala
Nitidiscala
Nodiscala
Nodiscala is a taxonomic genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, the wentletraps. [more]
Nystiella
Opalia
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Opaliopsis
Papuliscala
Periapta
Plastiscala
Pseudoclaviscala
Punctiscala
Scalaria
Scalina
Scrobs
Spiniscala
Stenorytis
Sthenorytis
Striaticostatum
Tasmalira
Turriscala
Variciscala
Viciniscala
Vitta
At least 6 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Vitta.
More info about the Genus Vitta may be found here.
References
- ^ a b c d Gofas, S. (2010). Epitoniidae. 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=132 on 24 April 2011
- ^ Art Weil (1999). "Conchologists of America List". University of Georgia. http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9901c&L=conch-l&O=A&P=18073. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ^ J. Wyatt Durham (1937). "Gastropods of the family Epitoniidae from mesozoid and Cenozoic rocks of the West Coast of North America". Journal of Paleontology 11 (6): 479?512. JSTOR 1298354.
- ^ "Conchologists of America List". University of Georgia. 1999. http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9908a&L=conch-l&F=&S=&P=1441. R etrieved 2009-03-23.
Further Reading
- A. Weil, L. Brown and B. Neville, 1999, The Wentletrap Book: A Guide to the Recent Epitoniidae of the World, Mal de Mer Enterprises
- Neville, Bruce (1997). A Master Index to the Species Names in the Family Epitoniidae. Albuquerque, New Mexico: privately published. pp. 59. http://www.unm.edu/~bneville/index.pdf.
External links
- wentletrap, Britannica
- Shell catalogue : EPITONIIDAE
- Epitoniidae, Wentletraps
- [1]
- NC Sea Grant, Seashells of North Carolina Field Guide
- WentletrapArt, Wentletrapart International Art Residency Program
- OBIS Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database : Epitoniidae
- Nomenclator Zoologicus
Sources
- The text on this page is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It includes material from Wikipedia retrieved Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
- The distribution map on the Distribution tab comes from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and is used with permission.
- Photographs on this page are copyrighted by individual photographers, and individual copyrights apply.
- The technology underlying this page, including the controls behind Keep Exploring, is owned by the BayScience Foundation. All rights are reserved.