The White-crested Tellin, Tellidora cristata (Récluz, 1842) is an uncommon local clam that stands out thanks to its extremely thin, almost flat shell. An inch-long White-crested Tellin is only 1/8" thick! (A shape-related analogy for those of you into fishing: a White-crested Tellin is to other Tellins what a Lookdown is to a Pompano or a Jack.) This clam, always white, sometimes bears a set of tooth-like projections in front and back of the shell “beak.” Paired valves are not easy to come by, and the one in the photos was found last week on Sanibel by Leonard Geyer.
The White-crested Tellin, Tellidora cristata, from Sanibel. Photo by José H. Leal.