Epitoniidae Berry, 1910 (1812)

Epitonium rissoinaeforme

(Melvill & Standen, 1903)

Description:

Dimensions range from 3.5 mm - 4.2 mm high and 2 mm wide.
Width to height ratio: 0.57:1 ~ 0.48:1

Shell: ovate-fusiform, slightly perforate, compact; minute. Exterior colour white. Approximately 28 costae on the body whorl. Costae continuous. Intercostal spaces interspaces finely and closely spirally ridged under magnification. Aperture round, white inside.

Distribution:

Gulf of Oman.

Habitat:

285 m

Etymology:

[neo-latin] from Rissoina= belonging to the family Rissoinidae, and forma = shape, form. In reference to the shell having a similar appearance to a Rissoid

Type Material:

Syntypes: NHMUK 1903.12.15.7 & 1981209 [as Scala rissoinaeformis Melvill & Standen, 1903:] - Type Locality: Gulf of Oman, 24° 58' N, 56° 54' E, 156 fms [= 285 m].. [Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015]

SpeciesImage

Bonfitto, A. (2018). pp: 125. Plate 3. Fig. I-J.

Figure 3. I

Distribution

as listed in source literature

Melvill, J. C. & Standen, R (1903).

Species Image

Plate VII. Fig. 10.

Scala rissoinæformis sp.n.

Species Image

pp: 346.

Original descriiption

Bonfitto, A. (2018).

Species Image

pp: 125. Plate 3. Fig. I-J.

Figure 3. I

Synonymy:

Scala rissoinaeformis Melvill & Standen, 1903: [in Brown, L. & Neville, B.D., 2015].

Source Literature:

Bonfitto, A. (2018). New species of Epitoniidae (Gastropoda: Epitonioidea) from the Red Sea. Molluscan Research. 38:2. Taylor 7 Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2017.1385168 [Accessed 26 August 2023]
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]
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