Episcomitra zonata

Episcomitra zonata, common name zoned mitre, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mitridae, the miters or miter snails.^[1]

Zoned mitre
Shell of Episcomitra zonata from Adriatic Sea at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Mitridae
Genus:	Episcomitra
Species:	E. zonata
Binomial name
Episcomitra zonata (Marryat, 1818)
Synonyms
Mitra (Mitra) fusiformis zonata Marryat, 1819 Mitra antiquata Kobelt, 1874 Mitra fusiformis zonata Marryat, 1819 Mitra santangeli Maravigna, 1840 Mitra zonata Marryat, 1818 Mitra zonata Risso, 1826 Mitra zonata var. concolor Coen, 1934 Mitra zonata var. major Pallary, 1900 Mitra zonata var. minor Pallary, 1900 Mitra zonata var. protracta Pallary, 1900

Description

Episcomitra zonata has a shell reaching a length of 60–100 mm. The shape of the shell is elongated and slender. The surface is reddish brown with a dark brown spiral band. The interior is always white, with a long and narrow mouth.

Distribution

This quite rare and endangered marine species is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and to the Adriatic Sea; it has also been found off the Azores.

Habitat

Episcomitra zonata can be found at depths of 20– 80 m.