Header Image
Epitoniidae Berry, 1910 (1812)

Cycloscala hyalina

(G. B. Sowerby II, 1844)

Description:

Dimensions range from 1 mm - 18 mm high and .3 mm - 14 mm wide.
Width to height ratio: 0.3:1 ~ 0.78:1

Shell: narrowly to widely scalariform, pyramidal; glassy, thin; microscopic to small. Exterior colour transparent, glossy, white. About 12 whorls, rounded, uncoiled from the first teleoconch, completely separated; protoconch with 3-5 whorls tall, glassy, often tilted to one side; teleoconch with 4-7 whorls moderately rounded, loosely coiled. Umbilicate: sub-circular, with ribs entering the umbilicus. Approximately 5 - 14 costae on the body whorl. Costae are high, thin, weakly crenulate, edges are sometimes fluted. Costae not aligned; not continuous across the whorls; blunt coronation on the shoulder; slightly recurved. Intercostal spaces smooth without striae. Aperture ovate, separated from preceeding whorl; peristome complete with rimmed lip; outer lip reflexed. Operculum light in colour, translucent, nucleus central.

DuShane [1990:3] noted that, while the reason for shell uncoiling is unknown, she cited Yochelson [1971:240], who suggested that open coiling in Paleozoic gastropods may have provided an advantage for sedentary animals by increasing contact with the substrate and thereby helping maintain their position.


Distribution:

Indo-Pacific; Gulf of Oman [Melvill & Standen, 1903a:344]; Red Sea to Natal, Sth Africa [Kilburn, 1985:258]; Hawaiian Islands, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, Red Sea, Natal, Peninsular Malaysia [Dushane, 1990:3]; Taiwan [Huang & Lee, 2016:15]; Sagami Bay to Kyushu, southern coast of Sea of Japan [Nakayama, 2003:35]; Korean Peninsular [NIBR, 2019:327]; Cocos Keeling Islands [Maes, 1967:117]; Singapore [Tan & Woo, 2010:40]; Gulf of Thailand [Gemert, 2003:105]; New Caledonia [Heros V. et al., 2007:]; the full extent of Australian range unknown but it has been recorded from Northern Territory, Queensland and Twofold Bay NSW & South Australia [Beechy, 2008]; Dushane [1990:3] also cites South Australia.; Cecalupo & Quadri [1994:7] presented evidence of the species from the northern coast of Cyprus, having crossing into the Mediterranean sea via the Red Sea; Manousis et al. [2020:40] cite records of the species in the Saronic Gulf, Greece.


Habitat:

very shallow water to 1150 m [Garcia, 2004:60] sand. Known mainly from beach wash-up [Beechey, 2008.


Etymology:

[latin] from hyalinus = glassy.


SpeciesImage

Sowerby, G. B. II. (1844). Plate xxxii. Fig. 21.

Sc. HYALINA. (pl. xxxii. f. 21, 22.)

Distribution

as listed in source literature

Type Material:

The following list brings together type material and other cited specimens as reported in the sources examined, grouped under the names and designations used in each source. The same specimen may appear in multiple entries drawn from different sources. Some entries concern other species included by authors for comparison; inclusion in this list does not imply synonymy.
Cycloscala hyalina (G. B. Sowerby II, 1844)SyntypeBMNH 198148. [Kilburn, 1985: 255].TypeCatanauan and Batangas, Luzon Island, Philippines. [Nakayama, 2003: 35].Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, USA. [Garcia, 2004b: 60].
Cycloscala anguina Jousseaume, 1912TypeMNHN 2650. [DuShane, 1988c: 1].
Cycloscala hyalina (Sowerby, 1844)HolotypeAMS C.60652. New South Wales, Sydney Harbour, Australia. Lat: 33° 51' 00'S, Lon: 151° 14' 00'E. Collected by: Comtesse, Captain D L. . 1928 - 1929. Dredged. [Australian Museum, 2026: C.60652].
Epitonium hyalinum mokuoloense Pilsbry, 1921SyntypeANSP 127834. Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, USA. [Brown & Neville, 2015: 107].
Scala revoluta Hedley, 1899HolotypeAMS C5872. [DuShane, 1988c: 1].
Scalaria (Cycloscala) paucilobata de Boury, 1911HolotypeMNHN-IM-2000-4369. New Caledonia. [Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, 2026: MNHN-IM-2000-4369].TypeParis Mus. n° 1.163. [Boury, 1911b: 329].
Scalaria hyalina G. B. Sowerby II, 1844SyntypeBMNH 198148. [4 specimens]. [DuShane, 1988c: 1].NHM 1981048. Luzon, Philippines. [3 specimens]. [Natural History Museum, 2014: NHM 1981048].NHMUK 1981048. Catanuan Island, Luzon, Philippines. [Brown & Neville, 2015: 85].
Scalaria hyalina mokuoloense Pilsbry, 1921TypeANSP 127834. [10 specimens]. [DuShane, 1988c: 1].
Scalaria latedisjuncta de Boury, 1911HolotypeParis Museum. [DuShane, 1988c: 1].
Scalaria paucilobata de Boury, 1911HolotypeMNHN 4369. New Caledonia. [Brown & Neville, 2015: 119].
Solvaclathrus hyalinum (Sowerby, 1844)Type designation not provided in text/ source document'Ins, Catanauan et Batangas, ins, Luzon, ' Luzon, Philippines. [8-10 fthms]. Found in sandy mud. [Higo et al., 1999: G1894].
Solvaclathrus jacobiscala Iredale, 1936HolotypeAMS C.5872. Funafuti Atoll, Royal Society Coral Boring Expedition, Tuvalu. Lat: 8° 31' 00'S, Lon: 179° 13' 00'E. Collected by: Hedley, C. . 1896 - 1896. [Australian Museum, 2026: C.5872].AMS C.60652. Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. [Brown & Neville, 2015: 88].AMS C.60652. [DuShane, 1988c: 1].Type[Iredale, 1936: 299].


Sowerby, G. B. II. (1844).
Shown in text as Scalaria hyalina G. B. Sowerby II, 1844
Species Image
Plate xxxii. Fig. 21.
Sc. HYALINA. (pl. xxxii. f. 21, 22.)
Species Image
Plate xxxii. Fig. 22.
Sc. HYALINA. (pl. xxxii. f. 21, 22.)
Species Image
pp: 85.
Original description
Reeve, L.A. (1873).
Species Image
Plate vi. Fig. 41a.
Species Image
Plate vi. Fig. 42b.
Tryon, G.W. (1887).
Shown in text as Scalaria hyalina G. B. Sowerby II, 1844
Species Image
Plate 11. Fig. 53.
Species Image
Plate 11. Fig. 54.
Species Image
pp: 57.
Clessin, S. (1897).
Species Image
Plate 16. Fig. 8.
Species Image
pp: 63.
Shell pyramidal, white, smooth, thin, transparent; whorls very disjointed; varices widely spaced, fringed or laciniated; aperture rounded, separated from the last whorl; margin fringed or jagged.
Boury, E. de. (1911b).
Shown in text as Scalaria (Cycloscala) paucilobata de Boury, 1911
Species Image
pp: 329-330.
Iredale, T. (1936).
Shown in text as Solvaclathrus jacobiscala sp. novo
Species Image
Plate xxii. Fig. 14.
described as Solvaclathrus jacobiscala sp. novo
Species Image
pp: 299. Plate xxii.
original description
Maes, V. O. (1967).
Species Image
Plate 8. Fig. F.
Epitonium sp. ANSP 289436,
Cocos Keeling Islands, 7.8 mm
Kilburn, R.N (1985).
Species Image
NM B2063. Durban Bay: 28, 2,2 x 1,3 mm; 29, 5,7 x 2,9 mm; 30, 6,3 x 3,6 mm; 31, 4,3 x 2,4 mm
DuShane, H. (1988c).
Shown in text as Cycloscala hyalina mokuoloensis (Pilsbry, 1921)
Species Image
pp: 1. Fig. 3.
3. Cycloscalahyalina mokuoloensis(Pilsbry, 1921)
type lot ten specimens ANSP 127834
L 8 mm, W 4.5 mm.
Species Image
pp: 1.
Species Image
pp: 1. Fig. 2.
2. Cyclascala hyalina (Sowerby, 1844)
Mamala Bay, Oahu Island, Burch ColI
L II mm, W 2mm
Cecalupo A. & Quadri P (1994).
Species Image
pp: 7. Plate 1. Fig. 2-2a.
Cycloscala byalina (Sowerby, 1844),
fig. 2, h 3,9 mm, fig. 2a h. 3,0 mm)
località Kyrenia (Girne) -10 m.
Garcia, E.F. (2004b).
Species Image
pp: 63. Fig. 18, 20.
New Caledonia, Secteur de Touho, 20°45.2°S, 165°08°E, 9-11 m
Beechey, D. (2008).
Species Image
pp: Cycloscala hyalina. Fig. 2.
Holotype: of Solvaclathrus jacobiscala. Sydney Harbour, Triton dredge (C.060652)
Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (2026).
Shown in text as Scalaria (Cycloscala) paucilobata de Boury, 1911
Species Image
Scalaria paucilobata de Boury, 1911
Holotype: MNHN-IM-2000-4369
New Caledonia
Credit:MNHN - Brabant D. - 2005
CC BY 4.0

Synonymy:

Cycloscala hyalina (Sowerby, 1844) [Australian Museum, 2026: C.60652]
Cycloscala hyalina mokuoloensis (Pilsbry, 1921) [DuShane, 1988c: 1]
Epitonium hyalinum (Sowerby, 1844) [Kaicher, 1981: EP2-3043]
Epitonium hyalinum mokuolensis Pilsbry, 1921 [Kay, 1979: 153]
Epitonium hyalinum mokuoloense Pilsbry, 1921 [Brown & Neville, 2015: 107]
Epitonium jacobiscala (Iredale, 1936) [Wilson, 1993: 277; Kaicher, 1981: EP2-3102]
Scalaria (Cycloscala) paucilobata de Boury, 1911 [Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, 2026: MNHN-IM-2000-4369; Boury, 1911b: 329]
Scalaria hyalina G. B. Sowerby II, 1844 [Sowerby, 1844: 85; Brown & Neville, 2015: 85; Reeve, 1873: pl. 6, fig. 41a-b; Clessin, 1897: 63; Tryon, 1887: 57; Natural History Museum, 2014: NHM 1981048]
Scalaria hyalina mokuoloense Pilsbry, 1921 [DuShane, 1990: 3]
Scalaria paucilobata de Boury, 1911 [Brown & Neville, 2015: 119]
Solvaclathrus hyalinum (Sowerby, 1844) [Higo et al., 1999: G1894]
Solvaclathrus jacobiscala Iredale, 1936 [Iredale, 1936: 299; Brown & Neville, 2015: 88; Australian Museum, 2026: C.5872]


Source Literature:

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Australian Museum (2026). Australian Museum provider for OZCAM. Occurrence dataset. Atlas of Living Australia. https://doi.org/10.15468/e7susi accessed via GBIF.org [Accessed 18 July 2026]
Beechey, D. (2008z). Cycloscala_hyalina. Seashells of NSW. https://seashellsofnsw.org.au/Epitoniidae/Pages/Cycloscala_hyalina.htm [Accessed 10 May 2023]
Boury, E. de (1911b). Diagnoses de Scalariidæ nouveaux appartenant aux sous-genres Cycloscala et Nodiscala.. Bulletin du Muséum national d’histoire naturelle. 17(5). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/332107 [Accessed 20 June 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]
Cecalupo, A. & Quadri, P. (1994). Contributo alla conoscenza malacologica per il nord dell’isola di Cipro (parte I).. Bollettino Malacologico. 30. https://www.societaitalianadimalacologia.it/Bollettino/Bollettino%201994/Boll.%20Mal.%201994%205-16.pdf [Accessed 10 November 2025]
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]
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DuShane, H. (1990). Hawaiian Epitoniidae. Hawaiian Shell News. 38(Sup.1). Hawaiian Malacological Society
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Gemert L van (2003). Marine schelpen verzamelen op Ko Samui (Golf van Thailand). De Kreukel. 39
Heros V., Lozouet, P., Maestrati, P., von Cosel, R., Brabant D., & Bouchet P (2007). Mollusca of New Caledonia. in: Payri C.E. Richer de Forges B. (Eds.) Compendium of marine species of New Caledonia, Doc. Sci. Tech.. II7 2ed. https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers15-04/010038859.pdf [Accessed 28 February 2026]
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WoRMS direct page link: Open WoRMS record