Epidendrium billeeanum

Epidendrium billeeanum, commonly known as the Yellow sea snail or the Golden wentletrap, is a species of small predator and ectoparasite sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Epitoniidae, the wentletraps.[1]

Epidendrium billeeanum
Two live individuals of Epidendrium billeeanum and a mass of egg capsules, in situ on their food source, a cup coral
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
informal group Ptenoglossa
Superfamily:
Epitonioidea
Family:
Epitoniidae
Genus:
Epidendrium
Species:
E. billeeanum
Binomial name
Epidendrium billeeanum
(DuShane & Bratcher, 1965à
Synonyms[1]
  • Alora billeeana (DuShane & Bratcher, 1965)
  • Epitonium billeeanum (DuShane & Bratcher, 1965)
  • Scalina billeeana DuShane & Bratcher, 1965

Distribution

This species is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and the occidental Pacific Ocean including the Red Sea, Hawaii and the Galapagos.[2]

Description

The Golden wentletrap has a bright yellow helicoidal shell which grows up to 1 cm in length. It's often found on corals from genus Tubastraea on which it feeds.[2]

References
  1. WoRMS (2010). Epidendrium billeeanum (DuShane & Bratcher, 1965). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=523762 on 2010-11-23
  2. http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=1330
  • "Epitonium (Asperiscala) billeeanum". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  • http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=523762


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