Methodology

This section outlines the process used to develop detailed, standardised web pages for each species within the Epitoniidae family — from compiling the species list to publishing the final content online.

Establishing a Species List
The project began with identifying all currently accepted Epitoniid species using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Although several taxonomic databases are available, WoRMS was selected as the primary source of truth due to its authority, reliability, and regularly updated taxonomy.

Collecting Original Descriptions
The next stage involved locating the original species descriptions for each valid taxon. Most of the historical literature was accessed through online repositories and public-domain archives, reflecting the age of many of the documents. In a few cases, data were sourced from printed books and restricted-access publications. In addition to the original descriptions, the project also gathered: • Associated illustrations, figures, and plates • Descriptions of relevant synonyms (older or alternative names used for the same species)

Organising the Data
A custom database was developed using FileMaker Pro to store and structure all collected data. Each source document referring to a species was entered as a unique record, regardless of whether it contained a single data point or a full species account. This allowed the project to track and compare data across multiple sources. The database included fields for:

• Taxonomic name and known synonyms
• Morphological details
• Geographic distribution and habitat
• Type locality information
• Figures and illustrations
• Full bibliographic metadata

This data structure enabled systematic comparison of species using consistent criteria and allowed for easy evaluatation of shared or differing features.

Standardising Descriptions
The descriptive content was segmented into clearly defined categories based on common traits found in the literature. These included broad descriptors such as shell shape, sculpture, size, and habitat, as well as more specific morphological features like costae [(]ribs], suture, umbilicus, spire height, aperture shape, axial and spiral ornamentation, and colouration. A custom algorithm was developed within FileMaker Pro to automatically consolidate and standardise this segmented information into a uniform descriptive format for each species. This ensured that descriptions were consistent across the dataset and could be easily compared. Although the majority of the standardisation process was handled algorithmically, manual input was necessary in certain cases — particularly for species with numerous, detailed, or conflicting records. Editorial decisions were made to determine which information was most reliable or relevant based on source quality and clarity. Older descriptions were often less specific or used outdated terminology, so multiple source documents were used to construct more complete and modern summaries wherever possible.

Compiling the Bibliography
As this work relied solely on the contributions of previous taxonomists, it was essential that accurate bibliographic information was maintained to ensure all authors were properly acknowledged. Every source document consulted was recorded in a comprehensive bibliographic database, and citations were formatted according to the APA 7th edition style. This approach ensures full transparency and allows users to trace each piece of information back to its original publication.

Web Integration
Once finalised, the standardised species data were exported from FileMaker into a SQL database, which serves as the backend for the website. The species description pages were built using:

• HTML, CSS, and PHP for page structure and visual layout
• SQL for querying and displaying species data dynamically
• Leaflet.js to generate interactive maps showing distribution and type locality information

This framework allows the website to deliver reliable, high-quality species pages that are both searchable and scalable.

Summary
Through the combination of trusted taxonomic sources, historical scientific literature, structured database design, and custom automation, this methodology delivers accurate, standardised, and accessible descriptions for every species within the Epitoniidae family. The result is a robust and user-friendly online reference for researchers, collectors, and marine biodiversity enthusiasts worldwide.