wentletrap

wentletrap
/wen"tl trap'/, n.
any of several marine gastropods of the family Epitonii (Scalariidae), having a whitish, spiraled shell.
[1750-60; < D wenteltrap, earlier wendeltrap spiral staircase, equiv. to wend(en) to turn + freq. -el- (Compare wentelen to revolve) + trap TRAP1)]

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▪ gastropod family
also called  staircase shell , or  ladder shell 

      any marine snail of the family Epitoniidae (subclass Prosobranchia of the class Gastropoda), in which the turreted shell—consisting of whorls that form a high, conical spiral—has deeply ribbed sculpturing. Most species are white, less than 5 cm (2 inches) long, and exude a pink or purplish dye. Wentletraps occur in all seas, usually near sea anemones, from which they suck nourishment. The common wentletrap (Epitonium clathrus) occurs in European waters; the money wentletrap (E. indianorum) is common from Alaska to Mexico.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wentletrap — Wen tle*trap , n. [D. wenteltrap a winding staircase; cf. G. wendeltreppe.] [Obs.] Any one of numerous species of elegant, usually white, marine shells of the genus Scalaria, especially {Scalaria pretiosa}, which was formerly highly valued;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wentletrap — [went′ l trap΄] n. [Du wenteltrap, lit., a winding staircase < wentel, a winding, akin to wenden (see WEND) + trap, stair: see TRAP1] any of a family (Epitoniidae) of marine gastropod mollusks usually enclosed in a white, spiral shell …   English World dictionary

  • Wentletrap — Taxobox name = Wentletrap image caption = Two shells of Epitonium humphreysii , Humphrey s wentletrap regnum = Animalia phylum = Mollusca classis = Gastropoda subclassis = Orthogastropoda superordo = Caenogastropoda ordo = Sorbeoconcha subordo =… …   Wikipedia

  • wentletrap — Scalaria Sca*la ri*a, n. [L., flight of steps.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of marine gastropods of the genus {Scalaria}, or family {Scalarid[ae]}, having elongated spiral turreted shells, with rounded whorls, usually crossed by ribs… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wentletrap — noun Etymology: Dutch wenteltrap winding stair, from Middle Dutch wendeltrappe, from wendel turning + trappe stairs Date: 1758 any of a family (Epitoniidae) of marine snails with usually white shells; also one of the shells …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • wentletrap — n. marine gastropod having a white spiraled shell …   English contemporary dictionary

  • wentletrap — [ wɛnt(ə)ltrap] noun a marine mollusc with a tall spiral shell of many whorls. [Clathrus clathrus and other species.] Origin C18: from Du. wenteltrap, lit. winding stair …   English new terms dictionary

  • wentletrap — wen·tle·trap …   English syllables

  • wentletrap — wen•tle•trap [[t]ˈwɛn tlˌtræp[/t]] n. ivt any of various marine gastropods of the family Epitoniidae, typically white with sharply defined axial ridges • Etymology: 1750–60; < D wenteltrap, earlier wendeltrap spiral staircase =wend(en) to turn …   From formal English to slang

  • wentletrap — /ˈwɛntltræp/ (say wentltrap) noun any of the handsome, usually white, spiral shelled marine gastropods constituting the genus Scalaria or the family Scalariidae. {Dutch wenteltrap winding stair, spiral shell} …  

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