2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Janthina  \Jan"thi*na\,  n.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  See  {Ianthina}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ianthina  \I*an"thi*na\,  n.;  pl  L.  {Ianthin[ae]},  E. 
  {Ianthinas}.  [NL.,  fr  L.  ianthinus  violet-blue,  Gr  ?;  ? 
  violet  +  ?  flower.]  (Zo["o]l.) 
  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}.] 
 
  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. 

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