Truncatellas are small marine snails that spend most of their lives away from seawater, living among dead leaves, above the high tide line in mangrove areas. The genus name derives from the truncated shell aspect. One of two species occurring locally in Southwest Florida, the Beautiful Truncatella, Truncatella pulchella Pfeiffer, 1839, grows to 6.5 mm (about 0.25 inch). Its shell is elongate, with up to six rounded whorls, each bearing 17–40 axial (“vertical”) ribs. The color is yellowish to brownish. The shell outer lip sometimes looks “doubled” (arrow on photo).
José H. Leal
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