Wentletrap
Encyclopedia
Wentletraps are small, often white, very high-spire
d, predatory or ectoparasitic sea snail
s, marine
gastropod mollusks, in the family
Epitoniidae.
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.
, 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.
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.
s or coral
s, which serve as a food source for them. Some species are forager
s 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 coral
s 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 larva
e.
Genera brought into synonymy
Spire (mollusc)
A spire is a descriptive term for part of the coiled shell of mollusks. The word is a convenient aid in describing shells, but it does not refer to a very precise part of shell anatomy: the spire consists of all of the whorls except for the body whorl...
d, predatory or ectoparasitic sea snail
Sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for those snails that normally live in saltwater, marine gastropod molluscs....
s, marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusks, in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Epitoniidae.
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
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
Epitonioidea
Epitonioidea
Epitonioidea is a superfamily of planktonic and ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs within the informal group Ptenoglossa. This superfamily includes the wentletraps and the purple snails.-Taxonomy:...
, which also includes the Janthinidae
Janthinidae
Janthinidae, common name the purple snails or violet snails, are a family of pelagic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the informal group Ptenoglossa of the clade Hypsogastropoda....
(the pelagic purple snails) and the family Nystiellidae
Nystiellidae
Nystiellidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the superfamily Epitonioidea which includes the wentletraps, the purple snails and their allies. This family was previously considered as a subfamily of Epitoniidae...
, all part of the informal group Ptenoglossa
Ptenoglossa
The Ptenoglossa is an informal taxonomic group of sea snails.It was considered paraphyletic or polyphyletic by Ponder and Lindberg in their classification of the molluscs.-Taxonomy:*Superfamily Epitonioidea**Family Epitoniidae**Family Janthinidae...
. It is a rather large family with an estimated number of species over 630.
Distribution
Wentletraps inhabit all seas and oceans worldwide, from the tropical zones to the Arctic and Antarctic 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 apertureAperture (mollusc)
The aperture is an opening in certain kinds of mollusc shells: it is the main opening of the shell, where part of the body of the animal emerges for locomotion, feeding, etc....
, but its inner lip is often reduced to strip of callus. The round and horny operculum
Operculum (gastropod)
The operculum, meaning little lid, is a corneous or calcareous anatomical structure which exists in many groups of sea snails and freshwater snails, and also in a few groups of land snails...
is paucispiral and fits the aperture tightly. Most species are small to minute with length between 0.6 and 11.7 cm.
Within the genus Epitonium the shell has high, sharply ribbed sculpture
Sculpture (mollusc)
The sculpture of a mollusc shell is the three-dimensional ornamentation on the outer surface, as distinct from the basic shape of the shell itself or colouration. Sculpture may be concave as well as convex. Sometimes it has microscopic detail. Sculpture refers to the calcareous outer layer, not the...
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 anemoneSea anemone
Sea anemones are a group of water-dwelling, predatory animals of the order Actiniaria; they are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flower. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Zoantharia. Anthozoa often have large polyps that allow for digestion of larger...
s or coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
s, which serve as a food source for them. Some species are forager
Forager
A forager is one who forages, i.e. looks for forage.Forager may refer to:*A hunter-gatherer*Forager , a fictional superhero published by DC Comics*Foraging theory, a branch of behavioral ecology...
s 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
Salivary gland
The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands, glands with ducts, that produce saliva. They also secrete amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose...
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
Proboscis
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In simpler terms, a proboscis is the straw-like mouth found in several varieties of species.-Etymology:...
into a sea anemone
Sea anemone
Sea anemones are a group of water-dwelling, predatory animals of the order Actiniaria; they are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flower. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Zoantharia. Anthozoa often have large polyps that allow for digestion of larger...
. These snails also prey on coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
s 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 larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e.
Genera
Genera within the family Epitoniidae include:- AcirsaAcirsaAcirsa is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps...
MörchOtto Andreas Lowson MörchOtto Andreas Lowson Mörch was a biologist, specifically a malacologist. He lived in Sweden, in Denmark, and in France.- Taxa described :Bibliography and taxa described by Otto Andreas Lowson Mörch include:...
, 1857 - Acrilla H. Adams, 1860
- Acrilloscala Sacco 1891
- AlexaniaAlexania (gastropod)Alexania is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps...
Strand, 1928 - AloraAlora (gastropod)Alora is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps. -Species:...
(H. Adams, 1861) - Amaea H. & A. Adams, 1853
- Asperiscala de Boury, 1909
- Berthais Melvill, 1904
- Boreoscala Kobelt, 1902 (possibly a synonym of Cirsotrema)
- Chuniscala Thiele, 1928
- Cingulacirsa Higo & Goto, 1993
- CirsotremaCirsotremaCirsostrema is a genus of very small deepwater sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as the wentletraps.The type species of the family is Cirsotrema varicosa Lamarck, 1822.-Species:...
MörchOtto Andreas Lowson MörchOtto Andreas Lowson Mörch was a biologist, specifically a malacologist. He lived in Sweden, in Denmark, and in France.- Taxa described :Bibliography and taxa described by Otto Andreas Lowson Mörch include:...
, 1852 - Claviscala de Boury, 1909
- Compressiscala Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1976
- Constantia Adams 1860
- Couthouyella Bartsch 1909
- Crebriscala de Boury, 1909
- CycloscalaCycloscalaCycloscala is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps. -Species:...
Dall, 1889 <:small> - Cylindriscala de Boury, 1909
- Depressiscala de Boury 1909
- Ecclesiogyra Dall, 1892
- Eglisia Gray, 1842
- Epidendrium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- Epifungium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- EpitoniumEpitoniumEpitonium is a genus of small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. Epitonium is the type genus of the family Epitoniidae, the wentletraps....
Röding, 1798 - Foratiscala de Boury 1887
- FuniscalaFuniscalaFuniscala is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps.-Species:Species within the genus Funiscala include:* Funiscala maxwelli Finlay, 1930...
de Boury, 1890 - Globiscala de Boury, 1909
- Gregorioscala Cossman, 1912
- Gyroscala de Boury, 1887
- Iphitus Rafinesque 1815
- Kurodacirsa Masahito & Habe, 1975
- Minabescala Nakayama, 1994
- MurdochellaMurdochellaMurdochella is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropods in the family Nystiellidae of the superfamily Epitonioidea, the wentletraps, the purple snails, and their allies...
Finlay, 1927 - Narrimania Taviani, 1984
- Narvaliscala IredaleTom IredaleTom Iredale was an English-born ornithologist and malacologist who had a long association with Australia, where he lived for most of his life. He was an autodidact who never went to university and lacked formal training...
, 1936 - NodiscalaNodiscalaNodiscala is a taxonomic genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, the wentletraps.-Species:Species within the genus Nodiscala include:* Nodiscala ahiparana...
de Boury 1889 - Obstopalia Iredale, 1936
- OpaliaOpalia (gastropod)Opalia is a taxonomic genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps.-Species:...
H. & A. Adams, 1853 - PapuliscalaPapuliscalaPapuliscala is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropods in the family Nystiellidae of the superfamily Epitonioidea, the wentletraps, the purple snails, and their allies...
de Boury, 1909 - Periapta Bouchet & Waren, 1986
- Plastiscala IredaleTom IredaleTom Iredale was an English-born ornithologist and malacologist who had a long association with Australia, where he lived for most of his life. He was an autodidact who never went to university and lacked formal training...
, 1936 - Problitora IredaleTom IredaleTom Iredale was an English-born ornithologist and malacologist who had a long association with Australia, where he lived for most of his life. He was an autodidact who never went to university and lacked formal training...
, 1931 - Punctiscala Philippi, 1844
- Rutelliscala Kilburn, 1985
- Sagamiscala Masahito, Kuroda & Habe, 1971
- Sthenorhytis ConradTimothy Abbott ConradTimothy Abbott Conrad was an American geologist, malacologist and carcinologist.- External links :* at Internet Archive...
1862 - Surrepifungium A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005
- TasmaliraTasmaliraTasmalira is a genus of marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cerithiidae, the cerithids.-Species:Species within the genus Tasmalira include:* Tasmalira vitrea * Tasmalira wellingtonensis Dell, 1956- Further reading :...
Dell 1956 - Variciscala de Boury, 1909
- Varicopalia Kuroda MS, 1960 (nomen nudum)
Genera brought into synonymy
- Acutiscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
- Amiciscala Jousseaume 1912 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
- Cinctiscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Asperiscala de Boury, 1909
- Cirratiscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
- Clathroscala de Boury 1889 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Clathrus Oken 1815 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
- Dannevigena IredaleTom IredaleTom Iredale was an English-born ornithologist and malacologist who had a long association with Australia, where he lived for most of his life. He was an autodidact who never went to university and lacked formal training...
1936 : synonym of Cirsotrema Mörch, 1852 - Foliaceiscala de Boury 1912 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 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 Röding, 1798
- Lampropalia Kuroda & Ito, 1961 : synonym of Cylindriscala de Boury, 1909
- Mazescala IredaleTom IredaleTom Iredale was an English-born ornithologist and malacologist who had a long association with Australia, where he lived for most of his life. He was an autodidact who never went to university and lacked formal training...
1936 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798 - Nipponoscala Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1973 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
- Nystiella Clench & Turner, 1952 : synonym of Opaliopsis Thiele, 1928
- Scala Mörch, 1852 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
- Scalina ConradTimothy Abbott ConradTimothy Abbott Conrad was an American geologist, malacologist and carcinologist.- External links :* at Internet Archive...
, 1865 : synonym of Amaea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 - Spiniscala de Boury, 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
- Turbiniscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
- Viciniscala de Boury 1909 : synonym of Epitonium Röding, 1798
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
External links
- wentletrap, Britannica
- Shell catalogue : EPITONIIDAE
- Epitoniidae, Wentletraps
- http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/
- NC Sea Grant, Seashells of North Carolina Field Guide
- WentletrapArt, Wentletrapart International Art Residency Program
- OBIS Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database : Epitoniidae
- Nomenclator Zoologicus