The species has been used to study the effects of ocean acidification, as it is known to thrive in carbon dioxide-rich environments.

The species was described as Eatoniella (Dardanula) mortoni in 1965 by Winston Ponder, who named it after New Zealand biologist John Morton.

[2] Ponder synonymised several previously-named genera, including Iredale's 1915 genus Dardanula, which was retained as a subgenus of Eatoniella.

[9] Eatoniella mortoni has been used as a species to study ocean acidification, as the species benefits from living in carbon dioxide-rich environments and remains localised,[9][10][11][12] especially specimens sourced from the volcanic island Whakaari / White Island, due to their lifetime exposure to carbon dioxide vents.

[13] Eatoniella mortoni can produce more crystalline, durable and less porous shells at natural carbon dioxide vents.