Shell · Genus
Epitonium
Wentletraps
Wentletraps (Epitonium) are delicate white spiral shells with raised axial ribs like a spiral staircase, the precious wentletrap Epitonium scalare being the most famous and, in the 18th century, so valuable that rice-paste fakes were made. Genuine specimens today are affordable. Ribs and intact apex set the grade.
| Habitat | Sand near sea anemones and corals, worldwide |
|---|---|
| Regions | Indo-Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Eastern Pacific |
| Family | Epitoniidae |
| Authority (WoRMS) | Röding, 1798· WoRMS / MolluscaBase |
| Status (WoRMS) | accepted· WoRMS / MolluscaBase |
| Extinct (WoRMS) | no· WoRMS / MolluscaBase |
| Classification (WoRMS) | Animalia › Mollusca › Gastropoda › Caenogastropoda incertae sedis › Epitoniidae· WoRMS / MolluscaBase |
CITES and protection
Not CITES-listed.
Care (Byne's disease)
Thin white shells discolour under Byne's; keep away from wood and acidic paper.
Elsewhere
- WoRMS AphiaID: 137943
- Wikidata: Q2037192
- WoRMS / MolluscaBase record
- Wikipedia: Epitonium
- CITES Appendices
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Epitonium" (Shell family). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19. https://stratum.black/study/shells/epitonium. Accessed 2026-09-20.
@misc{stratum-epitonium,
title = {Epitonium},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/shells/epitonium}},
year = {2026},
note = {Shell family article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19; sources: stratum, worms, wikidata, commons. Accessed 2026-09-20.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.