World Register of Deep-Sea species - Janthina janthina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Deep-Sea taxon details

Janthina janthina (Linnaeus, 1758)

AphiaID

140155 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:140155)

Classification

Status

accepted

Rank

Species

Parent

Janthina Röding, 1798

Original name

Helix janthina Linnaeus, 1758

Synonymised names

Janthina fragilis Lamarck, 1801 · unaccepted (objective synonym of J. janthina)

Environment

marine, ~~brackish~~, ~~fresh~~, ~~terrestrial~~

Original description

(of ) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. [iii] + 824 pp. , available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 772 [details] Available for editors

Descriptive notes

Distribution Pelagic, circumequatorial

Distribution Pelagic, circumequatorial [details]

Description Shell up to 4 cm, with angled whorls and a slightly extended apex. The base is flatter and less rounded than in J....

Description Shell up to 4 cm, with angled whorls and a slightly extended apex. The base is flatter and less rounded than in J. globosa. Violet in colour, with pale upper parts. Habitat: planktonic. Distribution: worldwide. (Richmond, 1997). [details]

Distribution The mollusc is pelagic and floating on surface

Distribution The mollusc is pelagic and floating on surface [details]

Distribution Range: 47°N to 40°S; 97°W to 0°W. Distribution: Massachusetts to North Carolina, Florida; Florida: West Florida, Florida...

Distribution Range: 47°N to 40°S; 97°W to 0°W. Distribution: Massachusetts to North Carolina, Florida; Florida: West Florida, Florida Keys; USA: Louisiana, Texas; Mexico; Mexico: Yucatan State, Quintana Roo; Panama, Colombia, Venezuela; Venezuela: unlocalized; Bermuda, Cuba, Jamaica; Virgin Islands: St. Croix; Brazil; Brazil: Ceara, Fernando de Noronha, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Trinidad Island, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina; Uruguay, oceanic [details]

Taxonomic citation

MolluscaBase eds. (2025). MolluscaBase. Janthina janthina (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025) World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS) at: https://www.marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140155 on 2026-06-12

Thematic species database citation

Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2026). World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS). Janthina janthina (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed at: https://marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140155 on 2026-06-12

Taxonomic edit history

Date

action

2004-12-21 15:54:05Z

created

Gofas, Serge

2006-03-21 08:01:23Z

changed

Vandepitte, Leen

2008-05-18 13:28:54Z

checked

Gofas, Serge

2020-04-10 20:33:59Z

changed

Marshall, Bruce

[taxonomic tree]

[clear cache]

original description (of Janthina fragilis Lamarck, 1801) Lamarck, J. B. de. (1801). Système des animaux sans vertèbres, ou tableau général des classes, des ordres et des genres de ces animaux. Published by the author and Deterville, Paris. : viii + 432 pp., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14117719
page(s): 89 [details]

original description (of ) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. [iii] + 824 pp. , available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 772 [details] Available for editors

context source (Bermuda) Jensen, R. H. (1997). A Checklist and Bibliography of the Marine Molluscs of Bermuda. Unp. , 547 pp [details]

context source (PeRMS) Ramírez, R.; Paredes, C.; Arenas, J. (2003). Moluscos del Perú. Revista de Biologia Tropical. 51(supplement 3): 225-284. [details] Available for editors

basis of record Beu, A. G. (2017). Evolution of Janthina and Recluzia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Epitoniidae). Records of the Australian Museum. 69(3): 119-222., available online at https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1666 [details]

additional source Fowler, O. (2016). Seashells of the Kenya coast. ConchBooks: Harxheim. Pp. 1–170.
page(s): 21, pl. 8, fig. 17 [details]

additional source Rogers, G. F. (1941). Wreck of the Janthina janthina. The Nautilus. 54(3): 75-77., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8519230 [details]

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.
page(s): 84. [details]

additional source Laursen, D. 1953. The genus Ianthina: A monograph. Dana Report 38: 1-40, pl. 1. [details]

additional source Rosenberg, G. 1992. Encyclopedia of Seashells. Dorset: New York. 224 pp.
page(s): 85 [details]

additional source Barnard, K. H. (1963). Contributions to the knowledge of South African marine Mollusca. Part III. Gastropoda: Prosobranchiata: Taenioglossa. Annals of the South African Museum. 47(1): 1-199., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40854388
page(s): 107 [details]

additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. China Science Press. 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors

additional source Grove, S. 2011. The Seashells of Tasmania: A Comprehensive Guide. Taroona, Australia: Taroona Publications. [vi], 81.
page(s): 40 [details]

Present

Inaccurate

Introduced: alien

Containing type locality

From editor or global species database

Distribution Pelagic, circumequatorial [details]

Unreviewed

Distribution The mollusc is pelagic and floating on surface [details]

Definitions

Language	Name
Dutch	paarse zeilslak	[details]
English	violet snailviolet seasnailpurple sea snaillarge violet snailcommon violet sea-snailcommon purple snailcommon purple sea snailcommon janthinabubble raft shell	[details]
French	janthine	[details]
German	VeilchenschneckeFloßschneckeFlosschnecke	[details]
Japanese	アサガオガイ	[details]