Epitoniidae Berry, 1910 (1812)

Epitonium replicatum

(G. B. Sowerby II, 1844)

Description:

Dimensions range from 6.5 mm - 19 mm high and 3.63 mm - 10 mm wide.
Width to height ratio: 0.56:1 ~ 0.53:1

Shell: stout, short, conical; minute to small. Exterior colour white, whorls dark grey on live-taken specimens, costae white. About 14 whorls, convex, swollen, disconnected, joined only by costae, very loosely coiled; protoconch conical with ~4 whorls smooth, glassy; teleoconch with 5-10 whorls. Suture very deep, slightly fenestrated. Umbilicate: minute, fenestrated. Approximately 6 - 11 costae on the body whorl. Costae are prominent but relatively thin, erect, sharp- edged. Costae aligned from whorl to whorl; continuous over the suture, fusing with the costae on previous whorls; hooked, expanded into an elevated lobe near the suture; strongly reflected to form a canal behind each costa. Intercostal spaces smooth, glossy, with microscopic spiral striae. Aperture round, slightly oval; peristome thick and complete. Operculum dark, horny.

Distribution:

Gulf of California, Mexico, to the Galápagos and southern Panama; Hawaii [Dushane, 1974:43]; the Philippines; Japan, Boso Peninsula to Kyushu [Nakayama, 2003]; Sulu Archipelago, Indonesia [Schepman, 1909:24]; Dulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea [Wells et al., 2021:128]; Australia, and Torres Strait, Queensland, south to the Whitsunday Group. Tryon [1879:56] cited records from Lord Hood's Island and Kingsmill Islands -there is some uncertainty regarding the exact location, as a Lord Hood's Island exists both in the Galápagos and in French Polynesia. Dushane [1974:43] stated that Kingsmill Island belongs to the Mendaña group (the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati). Tomlin [1927:170] noted that Epitonium replicatum was a Polynesian species collected during the "St. George" Expedition, where a specimen was obtained at Gorgona Island, Colombia

Habitat:

Intertidal to 411 m [Schepman, 1909:24]. Rarely taken alive intertidally [DuShane, 1974:43] occurs on coarse sand [Schepman, 1909:224] and sandy mud [Brazier, 1875:249]

Etymology:

Epitonium oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, 1951 named for Dr. Anders Sando Oersted., Epitonium wurtsbaughi Strong & Hertlein, 1939 named for Captain D.H. Wurtsbaugh.

Type Material:

Lectotype: BMINH 1966409 (design. Dushane, 1974: 43) (fig. 9) for Epitonium replicatum (G. B. Sowerby II, 1844). [Kokshoorn, B., Gittenberger, J. & Gittenberger, A, 2007]
Lectotype: Scalaria replicata & syntypes (2), BMNH: Lord Hood's Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Holotype: Epitonium bialatum USNM 180798: La Paz, Gulf of California, Mexico
Holotype: Epitonium (Nitidiscala) wurtsbaughi, CAS[GTC] 725: Panama
Holotype: Epitonium (Nitidiscala) oerstedianum, CAS[GTC] 9622: Santa Inez Bay, Gulf of California, Mexico for Epitonium replicatum (G. B. Sowerby II, 1844). [DuShane, H., 1974]
type lost: per DuShane (1990: 4) [as Epitonium arestrum Tinker, 1952:] - Type Locality: Hawaii. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]
Holotype: USNM 180798 [as Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917:] - Type Locality: near La Paz, Gulf of California, Mexico, 10 fms (= 18 m).. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]
Holotype: CAS[GTC] 9622 [as Epitonium oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, 1951] - Type Locality: Station 145-D- 1-3, off San Domingo Point, Santa Inez Bay, Gulf of California, Mexico, 26° 52 N, 111° 53 W, dredged in 4-13 fms (7.5-24 m), sand.. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]
Lectotype & paralectotypes: NHMUK 1966409/1-2 designated by DuShane (1974: 43). [as Scalaria replicata G.B. Sowerby II, 1844: ~ Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917; ~ Epitonium (Nitidiscala) wurtsbaughi Strong & Hertlein, 1939; ~ Epitonium (Nitidiscala) oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, 1951; ~ Epitonium arestrum Tinker, 1952.] - Type Locality: Lord Hood's Island. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]
Holotype: CAS[GTC] 725 [as Epitonium wurtsbaughi Strong & Hertlein, 1939:] - Type Locality: Bahia Honda, Panama, dredged in 3 to 9 fms [= 5-16 m].. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]
Holotype: Calif. Acad. Sci. Dept. Paleo. Type Coll. [as Epitonium oerstedianum Hertlein & A. M. Strong, 1951] - Type Locality: Station 145-D-1-3, Lat. 26° 52' 00 N., Long. 111° 53' 00 W., off San Domingo Point, Santa Inez Bay, Gulf of California. [Hertlein, L. G. & Strong, A. M., 1951]
Type not indicated in text for Epitonium replicatum (G. B. Sowerby II, 1844) - Type Locality: 'ins. Lord Hood's' (Lord Hood's island, probably Marutea: 21 3' S., 135 33' W., Pacific Ocean); 'Found on coral reefs'.. [Higo, S., Callomon, P. & Goto, Y., 1999]
Holotype: No. 725 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Paleo. Type Coll.) for Epitonium replicatum (G. B. Sowerby II, 1844) - Type Locality: from Loc. 27,229 (C.A.S.), dredged in from 3 to 9 fms. in Bahia Honda, Panama. L. G. Hertlein collector.. [Strong, A. M. & Hertlein, L. G., 1939]

SpeciesImage

Murrell (2025).

French Polynesia

Distribution

as listed in source literature

Sowerby, G. B. II. (1844).

Shown in text as Scalaria replicata G. B. Sowerby II, 1844

Species Image

Plate XXXII. Fig. 23-24.

Species Image

pp: 86.

Species Image

pp: 85.

Reeve, L.A. (1873).

Species Image

Plate vi. Fig. 39.

Species Image

Species Image

Tryon, G.W. (1887).

Shown in text as Scalaria replicata G. B. Sowerby II, 1844

Species Image

Plate 11. Fig. 43.

Species Image

pp: 56.

Clessin, S. (1897).

Species Image

Plate 1. Fig. 9.

Species Image

pp: 4.

Dall, W. H. (1917).

Shown in text as Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917

Species Image

pp: 485.

Strong, A. M. & Hertlein, L. G. (1939).

Species Image

Plate 18. Fig. 14.

Epitonium (Nitidiscala) wurtsbaughi Strong & Hertlein, new species.
Holotype No. 725 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Paleo. Type Coll.), from Loc. 27,229 (C.A.S.), dredged in from 3 to 9 fms. in Bahia Honda, Veragua,
Panama. Length, 7.2 mm; diameter, 4.4 mm.

Species Image

pp: 193.

Hertlein, L. G. & Strong, A. M. (1951).

Shown in text as Epitonium oerstedianum Hertlein & A. M. Strong, 1951

Species Image

Plate III. Fig. 10.

Epitonium ( Nitidiscala ) oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, sp. nov.
Holoype, from Station 145-D-1-3, Lat. 26° 52' 00" N., Long. 111° 53' 00" W., off San Domingo Point, Santa Inez Bay, Gulf of California
Dredged in 4-13 fathoms (7.5-24 meters). Length, 6.5mm.; diameter, 4.2 mm.

Species Image

pp: 89.

original description for Epitonium (Nitidiscalal oerstedianum
Hertlein & Strong, sp. nov

Keen, A. M. (1958).

Shown in text as Epitonium (Nitidiscala) wurtsbaughi A. M. Strong & Hertlein, 1939

Species Image

pp: 275. Fig. 135.

Keen, A. M. (1958).

Shown in text as Epitonium oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, 1951

Species Image

pp: 275. Fig. 124.

DuShane, H. (1974).

Species Image

pp: 50. Fig. 97.

Figure97j : Epitonium (Nitidiscala) oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, 1951.
Holotype, CASfGTC] 9622; length 6£mm; width 4.2 mm X8

Species Image

pp: 50. Fig. 95.

Figure 95: Epitonium bialatum Dall, 191
7. Holotype, USNM 180 798; length 15mm; width 10 mm X 2.6

Species Image

pp: 50. Fig. 98.

Figure g8: Epitonium (Nitidiscala) wurtsbaughi Strong & Hertlein, 1939.Holotype,CASfGTC]725;L 7.2mm;W 4.4mm X9

Kaicher, S.D. (1980).

Species Image

Card #: EP1-2357.

Kaicher, S.D. (1983).

Shown in text as Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917

Species Image

Card #: EP3-3580.

Nakayama, T. (2003).

Species Image

pp: 125. Plate 11. Fig. 19-20.

figs 19-21: Epitonium (Lamelliscala) replicatum (Sowerby, 1844)
height 14.9 mm; breadth 10.0 mm (KC); fig. 21, base

Species Image

pp: 125. Plate 11. Fig. 21.

figs 19-21: Epitonium (Lamelliscala) replicatum (Sowerby, 1844)
height 14.9 mm; breadth 10.0 mm (KC); fig. 21, base

Kokshoorn, B., Gittenberger, J. & Gittenberger, A (2007).

Species Image

pp: 39. Fig. 9-10.

9-10,E.replicatum(Sowerby[II],1844)
9 lectotype BMNH1966409
H=13.7 mm;
10 NW.side ofLumulumu island (RMNH88481),H=11.7mm.

Species Image

pp: 40.

Murrell (2025).

Species Image

French Polynesia
12.02 x 6.61

Species Image

Species Image

Synonymy:

Epitonium (Nitidiscala) wurtsbaughi A. M. Strong & Hertlein, 1939 [in Keen, A. M., 1958].
Epitonium arestrum Tinker, 1952: [in Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015].
Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917 [in Dall, W. H., 1917].
Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917 [in Kaicher, S.D., 1983].
Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917 [in Keen, A. M., 1958].
Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917: [in Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015].
Epitonium oerstedianum Hertlein & A. M. Strong, 1951 [in Hertlein, L. G. & Strong, A. M., 1951].
Epitonium oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, 1951 [in Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015].
Epitonium oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, 1951 [in Keen, A. M., 1958].
Epitonium wurtsbaughi Strong & Hertlein, 1939: [in Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015].
Scalaria replicata G. B. Sowerby II, 1844 [in Sowerby, G. B. II., 1844].
Scalaria replicata G. B. Sowerby II, 1844 [in Tryon, G.W., 1887].
Scalaria replicata G.B. Sowerby II, 1844: ~ Epitonium bialatum Dall, 1917; ~ Epitonium (Nitidiscala) wurtsbaughi Strong & Hertlein, 1939; ~ Epitonium (Nitidiscala) oerstedianum Hertlein & Strong, 1951; ~ Epitonium arestrum Tinker, 1952. [in Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015].

Source Literature:

Brazier, J. (1875). Shells collected during the Chevert Expedition, with Descriptions of the New Species. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 1(3). Linnean Society of New South Wales.. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/22887 [Accessed 3 September 2025]
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]
Clessin, S. (1897). Die Familie der Scalariidae. In W. Kobelt (Ed.), Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet von Martini und Chemnitz. Neu herausgegeben und vervollständigt. 2(13). Bauer & Raspe, NürnbergBauer & Raspe, Nürnberg. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34259905 [Accessed 21 June 2025]
Dall, W. H. (1917). Notes on the shells of the genus Epitonium and its allies of the Pacific coast of America.. Proceedings of the US National Museum. 53(2217). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7553869 [Accessed 18 September 2023]
DuShane, H. (1974). The Panamic-Galapagan Epitoniidae. The Veliger. 16 (Sup. 14). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42500298 [Accessed 25 September 2023]
DuShane, H. (1985). The family Epitoniidae of Panama Bay. The Festivus. 17(7). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/196075 [Accessed 11 January 2026]
DuShane, H. (1990). Hawaiian Epitoniidae. Hawaiian Shell News. 38(Sup.1). Hawaiian Malacological Society
Hertlein, L. G. & Strong, A. M. (1951). Eastern Pacific Expeditions of the New York Zoological Society. XLIII. Mollusks from the West Coast of Mexico and Central America. Part X.. Zoologica: Scientific Contributions of the New York Zoological Society. 36(5). https://doi.org/10.5962/p.184642 [Accessed 21 June 2025]
Higo, S., Callomon, P. & Goto, Y. (1999). Catalogue and Bibliography of the Marine Shell-Bearing Mollusca of Japan.. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266375656_Catalogue_and_Bibliography_of_the_Marine_Shell-Bearing_Mollusca_of_Japan [Accessed 25 July 2025]
Kaicher, S.D. (1980). Epitoniidae I [Pack 23]. S. D. Kaicher, St. Petersburg, Florida. http://www.femorale.com/kaicher/species.asp?f=Epitoniidae&c=125 [Accessed 8 May 2023]
Kaicher, S.D. (1983). Epitoniidae III [Pack 35]. S. D. Kaicher, St. Petersburg, Florida. http://www.femorale.com/kaicher/species.asp?f=Epitoniidae&c=125 [Accessed 8 May 2023]
Keen, A. M. (1958). Sea shells of tropical west America; marine mollusks from Lower California to Colombia. Stanford Univ. Press;
Kokshoorn, B., Gittenberger, J. & Gittenberger, A (2007). Epitoniid parasites (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda, Epitoniidae) and their host sea anemones (Cnidaria,Actiniaria,Ceriantharia) in the Spermonde archipelago, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Basteria. 71(1-3)
Murrell (2025). Personal Collection
Nakayama, T. (2003). A Review of Northwest Pacific Epitoniids. Monographs of Marine Mollusca. 6. Backhuys Publishers
Reeve, L.A. (1873). Monograph of the genus Scalaria. Conchologia iconica, or illustrations of the shells of molluscous animal. 19. London. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8217819 [Accessed 24 August 2023]
Robba, E & Di Geronimo, S & Chaimanee, N & Negri, M & Sanfilippo, R. (2004). Holocene and recent shallow soft-bottom mollusks from the Northern Gulf of Thailand area: Scaphopoda, Gastropoda, addition to Bivalvia.. La Conchiglia, International shell magazine. 35
Schepman, M.M. (1909). The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition. Part 2. Taenioglossa and Ptenoglossa. E.J. Brill,Leyden. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34314807 [Accessed 27 July 2025]
Sowerby, G. B. II. (1844). Monograph of the genus Scalaria.. Thesaurus conchyliorum, or monographs of genera of shells.. 1 (4). London, privately published.. http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11076419 [Accessed 22 June 2023]
Strong, A. M. & Hertlein, L. G. (1939). Marine mollusks from Panama collected by the Allan Hancock Expedition to the Galapagos Islands, 1931-1932. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions. 2(12). University of Southern California Press, Los Angeles.. https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/asset-management/2A3BF1O37ST21 [Accessed 23 December 2025]
Tomlin, J.R. (1927). The Mollusca of the 'St. George' Expedition; (I.) The Pacific Coast of South America. Journal of Conchology. 18(6). https://doi.org/10.5962/p.406570 [Accessed 25 October 2025]
Tryon, G.W. (1887). Manual of conchology, structural and systematic with illustrations of the species. IX. Academy of Natural Sciences. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11026889 [Accessed 20 September 2025]
Weil, A., Brown, L. & Neville, B. (1999). The Wentletrap Book. Evolver
Wells, E., Sanpanich, K., Tan, S. K, & Duangdee, T. (2021). The Marine and Estuarine Molluscs of Thailand. Lee Kong Chian natural History Museum
Wilson, B.R. (1993). Australian Marine Shells. Australian Marine Shells. 1. Odessey Publications
WoRMS Editorial Board (2025). World Register of Marine Species. https://www.marinespecies.org [Accessed 8 November 2025]

WoRMS direct page link: Open WoRMS record