Tellins of Southwest Florida

In another episode of our “Family Pages” series, check out the great diversity of the family Tellinidae along the coast of Southwest Florida. There are at least 14 species locally: 1 – Sibling Tellin (Ameritella consobrina); 2 – Slandered Tellin (Ameritella probrina); 3 – Texas Tellin (Ameritella texana); 4 – Constricted Macoma (Austromacoma constricta); 5 – Alternate Tellin (Eurytellina alternata); 6 – Rose Petal Tellin (Eurytellina lineata): 7 – Atlantic Fat Tellin (Leporimetis ephippium); 8 – Elongated Macoma (Macoploma tenta); 9 – Short Macoma (Psammotreta brevifrons); 10 – Candystick Tellin (Scissula similis); 11 – Striate Tellin (Serratina aequistriata); 12 – Tampa Tellin (Tampaella tampaensis); 13 – White-crested Tellin (Tellidora cristata); 14 – Mexican Tellin (Tellinella mexicana). The individual photos are not at the same scale. Click on each scientific name to see the relevant entries and the differences among them in our Southwest Florida Shells guide.

Southwest Florida tellins. Illustration: José H. Leal.

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