Family Teinostomatidae

Size to 2 mm in diameter. The shell is smooth except for very faint growth lines, which are more noticeable around the suture, or the groove separating two successive whorls. There is a small callus (thickening) at the center of the umbilicus (the "hole" on the base of the shell). As with many members of the micromollusk family Teinostomatidae, the shell color is translucent-white. This species is among the smallest found on Sanibel and Captiva islands. On the second illustration the shell is compared with a cent coin, at the same scale. Illustration by James F. Kelly

Size to 2.2 mm in diameter. shell is strongly depressed (flattened), with the spire (the top) covered with a glass-like glaze. The shell outline is rounded, and the base shows a prominent callus. Shell color is white. The illustrated shell was collected in 1996 on Sanibel, and later identified by Harry G. Lee. Photos by James F. Kelly.

This is a very small species, even for the small-sized family Tornidae. It reaches only about 2 mm (0.8 inch) in diameter. The shell is smooth, totaling only about 3.5 whorls, with an open umbilicus, and the callus is almost completely absent. The shell is compressed, with the apex projecting only slightly, the whorl profile rounded, and the aperture oblique. There are strong axial lines reaching adapically inside the umbilicus. The shell color in the Uncertain Vitrinella is translucent-white. The shell illustrated was collected in 2002 by Lois Dunnam at Gulfside City Park on Sanibel. Photos by James F. Kelly.

At 2 mm (0.08 inch) maximum size, Teinostoma lerema Pilsbry & McGinty, 1945 is one of the smallest members of the family Tornidae in Florida. The suture (line where two successive whorls join) in this species is not very visible, not forming a distinct line on the shell surface. The shell surface is smooth, the aperture rounded, and the base shows a callus partially covering the umbilicus. The color is translucent milky-white. The shell in the photos was damaged during growth, with a "nick" evident on the last whorl. It was collected in 2008 by Lois Dunnan, near the Sanibel Fishing Pier. Shell identification by Harry G. Lee, and photos by James F. Kelly.

Teinostoma carinicallus is one the most distinctive among the local species of vitrinellas (family Tornidae). Its shell, which rarely reaches 3 mm (0.12 inch) in diameter, is delicate, smooth, with a low spire. The last whorl is flat, but the shell periphery is rounded. A concave callus (the plug-like structure on the shell base) completely closes the shell umbilicus. The most distinctive feature in the shell of this species is the presence of a narrow keel bordering the callus. The shell color is translucent-white. The shell in the illustration was collected by Phyllis Sharp in 2004 at the Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel. Photos by James F. Kelly.

Shell size up to 2 mm (about 0.08 inch) in diameter. The shell has a low spire, is flattened, depressed, and the periphery (outer shell "edge") is softly angled. The shell spire and base lack any sculpture except for coarse, irregular growth lines. The protoconch is "sunken" within the adult shell. The umbilicus is completely obliterated by a whitish, opaque callus that contrasts in color with the translucent-white remainder of the shell. (The species was named after Biscayne Bay in South Florida.) Photos by Patricia A. Starkey.

Shell size up to 2.2 mm (about 0.08 inch) in diameter. As the scientific and common names of the species indicate, the shell has a tall spire, resembling a miniature moon snail (family Naticidae). The shell lacks any sculpture except for microscopic growth lines. The protoconch sunken within the remainder of the shell. The umbilicus is shallow. Fully grown shells show a prominent spiral flange projecting from the aperture and partially covering the umbilicus. Shell color whitish. The species has ample distribution in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. This shell was dredged 14 miles offshore of the Sanibel Lighthouse, donated by Vivienne Smith, and identified by Harry G. Lee. Photos by James F. Kelly.