Wentletraps are small, often white, very high-

spire A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a roof of a building or tower, especially at the summit of church steeples. A spire may have a square, circular, or polygonal plan, with a roughly conical or pyramidal shape. Spires are ...

predatory Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

or ecto

parasitic Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has c ...

sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Epitoniidae.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 The word ''wentletrap'' originated in Dutch (''wenteltrap''), and it means spiral staircase. These snails are sometimes also called "staircase shells", and "ladder shells". The family Epitoniidae belongs to the

superfamily SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...

Epitonioidea Epitonioidea is a Taxonomic rank, superfamily of planktonic and ectoparasitic sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod molluscs within the informal group Ptenoglossa. This superfamily includes the wentletraps and the purple snails. Taxonomy ...

. Since 2017 this family also includes the former families

Janthinidae Wentletraps are small, often white, very high-spired, predatory or ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae.Gofas, S. (2010). Epitoniidae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollu ...

(the

pelagic The pelagic zone consists of the water column of the open ocean, and can be further divided into regions by depth (as illustrated on the right). The word ''pelagic'' is derived . The pelagic zone can be thought of as an imaginary cylinder or wa ...

purple snails) and

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.Bouchet, P. (2010). Nystiellidae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenbe ...

, all part of the informal group

Ptenoglossa The Ptenoglossa is an informal taxonomic group of sea snails. This group was considered paraphyletic or polyphyletic by Ponder and Lindberg (1997) in their classification of gastropod molluscs. The database WoRMS considers this suborder as b ...

.Beu A.G. (2017). Evolution of Janthina and Recluzia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Epitoniidae). Records of the Australian Museum. 69(3): 119-222
/ref> Epitoniidae is a rather large family, with an estimated number of species about 630.

Distribution

Wentletraps inhabit all seas and oceans worldwide, from the tropical zones to the Arctic and Antarctic zones.

Shell description

Most species of wentletrap are white, and have a porcelain-like appearance. They are notable for their intricately geometric shell architecture, and the shells of the larger species are prized by collectors. The more or less turret-shaped shell consists of tightly-wound (sometimes loosely coiled), convex whorls, which create a high, conical spiral. Fine or microscopic spiral sculpture (also called "striae") is present in many species. The shells sometimes feature an umbilicus. Wentletrap shells have a roundish or oval

aperture In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture and focal length of an optical system determine the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. An opt ...

, but its inner lip is often reduced to strip of callus. The round and horny operculum is paucispiral and fits the aperture tightly. 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. Within the genus ''Epitonium'', the type genus of the family, the shell has predominantly axial

sculpture Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

of high, sharply ribbed "costae". 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.

Ecology

Wentletraps are usually found on sandy bottoms near

sea anemone Sea anemones are a group of predation, predatory marine invertebrates of the order (biology), order Actiniaria. Because of their colourful appearance, they are named after the ''Anemone'', a terrestrial flowering plant. Sea anemones are classifi ...

s or

coral Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and sec ...

s, which serve as a food source for them. Some species are

forage Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used m ...

rs and search for anemones. Little is known about the biology of most wentletraps. Keen (1958) has his literature most cited. He observed that many wentletraps reveal a hint of purple body color, suggestive of carnivorous feeding. The animal can exude through its

salivary gland The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands that produce saliva through a system of ducts. Humans have three paired major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual), as well as hundreds of minor salivary glands. Salivary gla ...

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 A proboscis () is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In invertebrates, the term usually refers to tubular mouthparts used for feeding and sucking. In vertebrates, a proboscis is an elong ...

into a

. A sequence of a wentletrap feeding on an anemone has been published.Collin, Rachel (2000). "Development and anatomy of ''Nitidiscala tincta'' (Carpenter, 1865) (Gastropoda: Epitoniidae)". ''The Veliger'' 43(4): 302-312. These snails also prey on

s and other

coelenterate Radiata or Radiates is a historical taxonomic rank that was used to classify animals with radially symmetric body plans. The term Radiata is no longer accepted, as it united several different groupings of animals that do not form a monophyletic ...

s. Female wentletraps lay egg capsules that are bound together with a supple string. The young emerge from these capsules as free-swimming

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) 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. The ...

Genera

Genera within the family Epitoniidae include: * ''

Acirsa ''Acirsa'' is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniidae. They are commonly known as wentletraps.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Acirsa Mörch, 1857. Accessed through: World Register of Ma ...

'' Mörch, 1857 * '' Acrilloscala'' Sacco 1891 * '' Alexania'' Strand, 1928 * '' Alora'' (H. Adams, 1861) * '' Amaea'' H. & A. Adams, 1853 * '' Boreoscala'' Kobelt, 1902 (possibly a synonym of ''Cirsotrema'') * '' Cerithiscala'' de Boury, 1887 * '' Chuniscala'' Thiele, 1928 * '' Cingulacirsa'' Higo & Goto, 1993 * '' Cirsotrema'' Mörch, 1852 * '' Claviscala'' de Boury, 1909 * '' Couthouyella'' Bartsch 1909 * '' Crebriscala'' de Boury, 1909 * '' Cycloscala'' Dall, 1889 * ''

Cylindriscala ''Cylindriscala'' is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine (ocean), marine prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps.MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Cylindriscala de Boury, ...

'' de Boury, 1909 * '' Depressiscala'' de Boury 1909 * ''

Ecclesiogyra ''Ecclesiogyra'' is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine (ocean), marine prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Epitoniidae, commonly known as wentletraps.MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Eccliseogyra Dall, 1892. ...

'' Dall, 1892 * '' Eglisia'' Gray, 1842 * '' Epidendrium'' A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005 * '' Epifungium'' A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005 * ''

Epitonium ''Epitonium'' is a genus of small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. ''Epitonium'' is the type genus of the family Epitoniidae, the wentletraps.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Epitonium Röding, 1798. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Ro ...

'' Röding, 1798 * '' Eulima'' Risso, 1826 * ''

Filiscala ''Filiscala'' is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Epitoniidae Wentletraps are small, often white, very high-spired, predatory or ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Epitoniida ...

'' de Boury, 1911 *'' Foratiscala'' de Boury 1887 * '' Funiscala'' de Boury, 1890 * '' Globiscala'' de Boury, 1909 * '' Gregorioiscala'' Cossman, 1912 * '' Gyroscala'' de Boury, 1887 * '' Iphitus'' Jeffreys, 1883 * ''

Janthina ''Janthina'' is a genus of small to medium-sized pelagic or planktonic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Epitoniidae.Gofas, S. (2011). Janthina Röding, 1798. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.mari ...

'' Röding, 1798 * '' Kurodacirsa'' Masahito & Habe, 1975 * '' Minabescala'' Nakayama, 1994 * '' Narvaliscala'' Iredale, 1936 * ''

Opalia The Opiconsivia (or Opeconsiva or Opalia) was an ancient Roman religious festival held August 25 in honor of Ops ("Plenty"), also known as Opis, a goddess of agricultural resources and wealth. The festival marked the end of harvest, with a mirr ...

'' H. & A. Adams, 1853 * '' Opaliopsis'' Thiele, 1928 * '' Periapta'' Bouchet & Waren, 1986 * '' Plastiscala'' Iredale, 1936 * '' Problitora'' Iredale, 1931 * '' Punctiscala''

Philippi Philippi (; grc-gre, Φίλιπποι, ''Philippoi'') was a major Greek city northwest of the nearby island, Thasos. Its original name was Crenides ( grc-gre, Κρηνῖδες, ''Krenides'' "Fountains") after its establishment by Thasian colon ...

, 1844 * ''

Recluzia ''Recluzia'' is a genus of small to medium-sized pelagic or planktonic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Epitoniidae.MolluscaBase (2019). MolluscaBase. Recluzia Petit de la Saussaye, 1853. Accessed through: World Register of Ma ...

Petit de la Saussaye Sauveur Abel Aubert Petit de la Saussaye (1792–1870)Coan E. V. & Kabat A. R. (2017). ''2,400 years of malacology, 14th ed.'', 1,443 pp. + 110 pp. nnex 1 – Book Collations+ 65 pp. nnex 2 – Küster Collation 51 pp. nnex 3 – Journal Coll ...

, 1853 * '' Rutelliscala'' Kilburn, 1985 * '' Sthenorhytis'' Conrad 1862 * '' Surrepifungium'' A. Gittenberger & E. Gittenberger, 2005 * † '' Turriscala'' de Boury, 1890 † *'' Variciscala'' de Boury, 1909 * ''Varicopalia'' Kuroda MS, 1960 (''nomen nudum'') ;Genera brought into synonymy * ''Acrilla'' H. Adams, 1860: synonym of '' Amaea'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 * ''Acutiscala'' de Boury, 1909 : synonym of ''Epitonium'' Röding, 1798 * ''Amiciscala'' Jousseaume 1912 : synonym of ''Epitonium'' Röding, 1798 * ''Asperiscala'' de Boury, 1909: synonym of ''

'' 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 * ''Compressiscala'' Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1976 : synonym of '' Gregorioiscala'' Cossmann, 1912 * ''Dannevigena'' Iredale 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 * ''Fragilopalia''Azuma 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'' Iredale 1936 : synonym of ''Epitonium'' Röding, 1798 * ''Nipponoscala'' Masahito (Prince) & Habe 1973 : synonym of ''Epitonium'' Röding, 1798 * ''Nodiscala'' de Boury 1889 : synonym of ''

'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 * ''Nystiella'' Clench & Turner, 1952 : synonym of ''Opaliopsis'' Thiele, 1928 * ''Sagamiscala'' Masahito, Kuroda & Habe, 1971 : synonym of '' Globiscala'' de Boury, 1909 * ''Scala'' Mörch, 1852 : synonym of ''Epitonium'' Röding, 1798 * ''Scalina'' Conrad, 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

References

External links

wentletrap
Britannica
Shell catalogue : EPITONIIDAE

Wentletraps

NC Sea Grant
''Seashells of North Carolina'' Field Guide
WentletrapArt
Wentletrapart International Art Residency Program
OBIS Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database : Epitoniidae

Miocene Gastropods and Biostratigraphy of the Kern River Area, California; United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 642
{{Authority control Epitoniidae,