Description: This species has a very distinctive spire-shaped shell with 15 whorls and 7 widely spaced, prominent ribs. It is usually off-white but often has brown banding. Up to 40 x 12 mm in size. Black operculum. Feeds on anthozoans.

Habitat: Sand or mud. Sublittoral down to around 70 m, except when spawning when they can be found at low water.

Distribution: Most records are from south, SW and western coasts of Britain and Ireland. Seems to be mostly absent from North Sea coast.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species.

Key Identification Features:

• Distinctive spire-shaped shell.
• 15 whorls.
• 7 very prominent ribs.

Distribution Map from NBN: Epitonium clathrus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Epitonium clathrus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Epitonium clathrus

WoRMS: Epitonium clathrus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Epitonium clathrus (Linnaeus, 1758). AphiaID: 146905.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Caenogastropoda; Caenogastropoda incertae sedis; Epitonioidea; Epitoniidae; Epitonium