Description

The Wentletraps, named for the Dutch word for a spiral staircase, present a surprising array of species, noted for their intricately geometric shell architecture. Most are distinguished by a long spire, very deep sutures, and characteristically strong axial varices that run across all of the whorls from the tip of the spire to the aperture. The shells are generally white and have a porcelain-like appearance.

A rounded aperture is characteristic of the wentletrap family, which in molluscs usually indicates herbivorous feeding habits. However, many wentletraps show purple body color and sometimes staining of the shell, suggestive of carnivorous feeding (Keen, 1958). Keen also cited direct observation of a wentletrap feeding for hours at a time, by insertion of its proboscis into a sea anemone.

Interestingly and despite the fact that they are in an entirely unrelated superfamily than the Muricidae, the Epitoniidae secrete a similar mucus from which a purple dye can be made (Monfils, 2001).

The Epitoniidae family belongs to the Superfamily: Architectonicacea, which includes also the Architectonicidae, Janthinidae, as well as several more families consisting of small sea snails.

 

Classification

Class: Gastropoda

Group: Ptenoglossa

Superfamily: Epitonioidea

Family: Epitoniidae

Epitonium scalare (Linnaeus, 1758)
Precious Wentletrap
5.5 cm
Found in southwest sea of Taiwan

Amaea magnifica
Beautiful Wentletrap
10.8 cm
(a rare shell)

SEE LIVE WENTLETRAPS
(Jacksonville Shell Club)