Higher Classification: > Kingdom Animalia > Subkingdom Eumetazoa > Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Subclass Orthogastropoda > Subclass Caenogastropoda > Order Caenogastropoda incertae sedis > Superfamily Epitonioidea > Family Epitoniidae > Genus Janthina

Janthina janthina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Rank: Species
Taxon Status: accepted

Original genus

Helix Mitch.

Relationships towards this taxon

Genus group names

*Janthina*	Röding, 1798	accepted genus name
*Amethistina*	[sic]	orthographic variant
*Ianthina*		orthographic variant
*Achates*	Gistel, 1848	synonym
*Janthina (Achates)*	Gistel, 1848	synonym

Species group names

*Janthina bicolor*	O. G. Costa, 1830	junior homonym
*Ianthina bicolor*	Menke, 1828	synonym
*Ianthina bicolor var. minor*	Monterosato, 1878	synonym; nom. nud.
*Ianthina striulata*	P. P. Carpenter, 1857	synonym
*Ianthina striulata var. contorta*	P. P. Carpenter, 1857	synonym
*Janthina (Achates) carpenteri*	Mörch, 1860	synonym
*Janthina bicolor*	Menke, 1828	synonym
*Janthina bicolor var. conica*	Monterosato, 1878	synonym; nom. nud.
*Janthina bicolor var. major*	Monterosato, 1878	synonym; nom. nud.
*Janthina communis*	Lamarck, 1822	synonym
*Janthina fragilis*	Lamarck, 1801	synonym

Vernaculars (+) (-)

Dutch: paarse zeilslak sources: Lindner, G. (1999). Schelpengids: schelpen uit de wereldzeeën, vorm, voorkomen, systematiek [The shell guide: shells from the world oceans, shape, distribution and systematics]. Tirion: Baarn, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-5210-409-3. 320 pp.

English: bubble raft shell; common janthina; common purple sea snail; common purple snail; common violet sea-snail; large violet snail; purple sea snail; violet seasnail; violet snail sources: Branch, G. M. (2002). Two Oceans. 5th impression. David Philip, Cate Town & Johannesburg.;Cole, T. C. H. (2017). Wörterbuch der Wirbellosen / Dictionary of Invertebrates. Latein-Deutsch-English. 2017. Springer Spektrum: Berlin. ISBN 978-3-662-52869-3. XII, 574 pp.;Dautzenberg P. (1929). Contribution à l'étude de la faune de Madagascar: Mollusca marina testacea. Faune des colonies françaises. [Contribution to the study of the fauna of Madagascar: Mollusca marina testacea. Fauna of the French colonies.]. Société d'Editions Géographiques, Maritimes et Coloniales. 3(4): 321-636, pls 4-7. Paris.;Lindner, G. (1999). Schelpengids: schelpen uit de wereldzeeën, vorm, voorkomen, systematiek [The shell guide: shells from the world oceans, shape, distribution and systematics]. Tirion: Baarn, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-5210-409-3. 320 pp.

French: janthine

German: Flosschnecke; Floßschnecke; Veilchenschnecke sources: Lindner, G. (1999). Schelpengids: schelpen uit de wereldzeeën, vorm, voorkomen, systematiek [The shell guide: shells from the world oceans, shape, distribution and systematics]. Tirion: Baarn, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-5210-409-3. 320 pp.;Cole, T. C. H. (2017). Wörterbuch der Wirbellosen / Dictionary of Invertebrates. Latein-Deutsch-English. 2017. Springer Spektrum: Berlin. ISBN 978-3-662-52869-3. XII, 574 pp.

Japanese: アサガオガイ

Literature

basis of record	Beu, A. G. (2017). Evolution of Janthina and Recluzia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Epitoniidae). Records of the Australian Museum. 69(3): 119-222.
additional source	Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp.
additional source	Laursen, D. 1953. The genus Ianthina: A monograph. Dana Report 38: 1-40, pl. 1.
additional source	Rosenberg, G. 1992. Encyclopedia of Seashells. Dorset: New York. 224 pp.
additional source	Grove, S. 2011. The Seashells of Tasmania: A Comprehensive Guide. Taroona, Australia: Taroona Publications. [vi], 81.
additional source	Rogers, G. F. (1941). Wreck of the Janthina janthina. The Nautilus. 54(3): 75-77.
additional source	Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. (1998) Marine Shells of South Africa. An Illustrated Collector's Guide to Beached Shells. Ekogilde Publishers, Hartebeespoort, South Africa, ii + 264 pp.

Genbank

External Links

Marine Life Information Network - UK

Citation

MolluscaBase eds. (2025). MolluscaBase. Janthina janthina (Linnaeus, 1758). Via: Costello, M.J.; Bouchet, P.; Boxshall, G.; Arvantidis, C.; Appeltans, W. (2011) European Register of Marine Species, Accessed through PESI at http://www.eu-nomen.eu/portal/taxon.php?GUID=urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:140155