Epitoniidae Berry, 1910 (1812)

Epitonium amiculum

Kilburn, 1985

Description:

Dimensions range from 3 mm high.

Shell: narrowly pyramidal; fragile; microscopic. Exterior colour glossy yellowish-white. About 4 whorls, strongly convex; protoconch worn, tip damaged in holotype. Suture deep, simple. Umbilicate: as a slight chink. Approximately 27 - 30 costae on the body whorl. Costae are fine, thin, fairly low, erect, straight. Costae with a very slight coronation at the shoulder; slightly reflexed. Intercostal spaces with raised spiral lirae. Interstices with approximately 15 spiral striae per whorl. Columella not reflexed. Aperture ovate; peristome thin.

Kilburn [1985] notes that this species is in many respects a miniature of Epitonium amicum (Jousseaume, 1894) of the Red Sea, but has finer ribs.

Distribution:

Known only from the continental shelf of Zululand, Sth Africa

Habitat:

50 m

Etymology:

[latin] due to the resemblance to Epitonium amicum (Jousseaume, 1894), this species was named amiculum meaning a miniature Epitonium amicum.

Type Material:

Holotype NM A6184/T2935, off St Lucia Lighthouse, 50 m, from CSIR (Water Res.) bottom sample for Epitonium amiculum Kilburn, 1985. [Kilburn, R.N, 1985]
Holotype: NM A6184/T2935 [as Epitonium (Parviscala) amiculum Kilburn, 1985:] - Locality: off St. Lucia lighthouse, Zululand, 50 m.. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]

SpeciesImage

Kilburn, R.N (1985). pp: 316. Plate 134, E.(P.) amiculum sp. n.,.

holotype, 2,9 x 1,4 mm,

Distribution

as listed in source literature

Kilburn, R.N (1985).

Species Image

pp: 316. Plate 134, E.(P.) amiculum sp. n.,.

holotype, 2,9 x 1,4 mm,

Synonymy:

Epitonium (Parviscala) amiculum Kilburn, 1985: [in Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015].

Source Literature:

Brown, L. & Neville, B.D. (2015). Catalog of the recent taxa of the families Epitoniidae and Nystiellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) with a bibliography of the descriptive and systematic literature. Zootaxa. 3907(1). Magnolia Press Auckland, New Zealand. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3907.1.1 [Accessed 22 October 2023]
Kilburn, R.N (1985). The family Epitoniidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in southern Africa and Mozambique. Annals of the Natal Museum. 27(1). Natal Museum
Weil, A., Brown, L. & Neville, B. (1999). The Wentletrap Book. Evolver
WoRMS Editorial Board (2025). World Register of Marine Species. https://www.marinespecies.org [Accessed 8 November 2025]

WoRMS direct page link: Open WoRMS record