Ianthinae

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ianthina \I*an"thi*na\, n.; pl. L. {Ianthin[ae]}, E.
     {Ianthinas}. [NL., fr. L. ianthinus violet-blue, Gr. ?; ?
     violet + ? flower.] (Zool.)
     Any gastropod of the genus {Ianthina}, of which various
     species are found living in mid ocean; -- called also {purple
     shell}, and {violet snail}. [Written also {janthina}.]


     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: It floats at the surface by means of a raft, which it
           constructs by forming and uniting together air bubbles
           of hardened mucus. The Tyrian purple of the ancients
           was obtained in part from mollusks of this genus.
           [1913 Webster]