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Epitoniidae Berry, 1910 (1812)

Amaea optata

(Jousseaume, 1912)

Description:

Dimensions range from 3.5 mm - 3.5 mm high and 1.5 mm wide.
Width to height ratio: 0.43:1 ~ 0.43:1

Shell: elongated, slender, distinctly conical, with a rounded base; minute. Exterior colour dull white. About 8 whorls, convex; protoconch with ~3 whorls ; teleoconch with ~5 whorls. Suture deep. Imperforate. Costae are low, thin. Intercostal spaces with fine, closely spaced, regular, and fairly regular spiral striations creating a reticulated pattern with the costae. Columella edge, somewhat thickened. Aperture round; peristome slightly thickened, nearly touching the base of the previous whorl.


Distribution:

Aden


Habitat:

12 m


Etymology:

[latin] from optatus = desired, wished or longed for


Type Material:

Holotype: MNHN 4367 for Amaea optata (Jousseaume, 1912) - Locality: Aden, 12 m. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]


SpeciesImage

Kaicher, S.D. (1981). Card #: EP2-3082.

Holotype: MNHN, Paris.

Distribution

as listed in source literature

Jousseaume, F. (1912).
Species Image
Plate VII. Fig. 48.
Alexania
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pp: 225.
Small, imperforate, fairly solid shell, whitish, elongated-conical, latticed with numerous small varices and fine filiform striations.
Whorls: 8, convex, growing slowly and regularly; the first three smooth and slightly glossy, the following ones regularly ornamented with numerous slightly curved varices, which are finely striated. Aperture round, slightly angular anteriorly and posteriorly, with a somewhat thickened peristome, nearly touching the base of the penultimate whorl.
Length: 3.5 mm; diameter: 1.5 mm.
Habitat: Aden.
Kaicher, S.D. (1981).
Species Image
Card #: EP2-3082.
Holotype: MNHN, Paris.

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]
Jousseaume, F. (1912). Faune malacologique de la Mer Rouge. Scalidae. Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France.. 24(3-4). Mémoires de la Société Zoologique de France.. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10095979 [Accessed 1 March 2025]
Kaicher, S.D. (1981). Epitoniidae II [Pack 30]. S. D. Kaicher, St. Petersburg, Florida. http://www.femorale.com/kaicher/species.asp?f=Epitoniidae&c=125 [Accessed 8 May 2023]
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