This project began with a question.

In late 2019, a friend provided me with a cache of small Epitoniidae from Keppel Bay and asked if I could assist in identifying them.

This request marked the beginning of a broader project aimed at supporting the accurate identification of Epitoniid species through detailed research and documentation. The initial goal was to locate the original species descriptions and, using these alongside the published work of other authors, develop a standardised species profile for each taxon. Each profile would include consistent descriptive terminology, diagnostic features, images to aid in visual comparison.

Initial classification of Epitoniids typically relies on characteristics such as the number and form of costae (ribs), shell size and shape, and collection locality. However, finding all of these traits described clearly and comprehensively in a single source proved nearly impossible. Although many authors have published valuable descriptions and illustrations, a full and accurate picture of any one species could only be established by comparing and synthesising information across multiple works and sources.

Initial classification of Epitoniids typically relies on characteristics such as the number and form of costae (ribs), shell size and shape, and collection locality. However, finding all of these traits described clearly and comprehensively in a single source proved nearly impossible. Although many authors have published valuable descriptions and illustrations, a more complete picture of any one species may be established by comparing and synthesising information across multiple works and sources. This project is deeply indebted to the authors of those works; the descriptions and information presented here are an aggregate of their combined works and citations are provided throughout the site.

As a result, this project evolved into a comprehensive effort to integrate historical taxonomy with modern comparative analysis, combining visual, morphological, and anatomical data to produce a more reliable and accessible resource for the identification of this complex and understudied family of marine gastropods.