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VITRINELLIDAE 139
Vs inch in diameter, strong, opaque-white, depressed, 4 whorls. Top of
whorls rounded, slightly concave just below the fine suture; bearing 5 or 6
major, smooth, spiral threads on top with numerous, much finer threads be-
tween. Periphery bordered above and below by a major cord. Umbilicus
widely funnel-shaped, deep. Outer lip crenulate above. Not uncommon in
shallow water. One of our largest American Vitrinellid species. Provisionally
placed in this subgenus.
Genus Pseudomalaxts P. Fischer 1885
Fseudomalaxis nobilis \^errill Noble False Dial
Virginia to southeast Florida and the West Indies.
% inch in diameter, dull-white, planorboid, with a very flat spire and a
wide concave, non-umbilicate base. Periphery of shell flat, bordered above
and below by one or two spiral cords of small beads. Aperture squarish.
Operculum round, multispiral with a chitinous pimple on the inside. A rare
and choice collector's item. Deep water. 70 fathoms.
Fseudomalaxis balesi Pilsbry and McGinty Bales' False Dial
Palm Beach and along the Lower Keys, Florida.
1.8 mm. in diameter, 3 to 4 whorls, semitranslucent-white to burnt
sienna. Sculpture of fine, spiral striae and strong, widely spaced, radial ribs.
Peripheral zone flattened or concave between 2 projecting nodulose keels.
Under rocks. Moderately common to rare. This genus was formerly placed
in the family Architectonicidae.
Genus Teinostoma H. and A. Adams 1854
Shells usually about 2 to 3 mm. in diameter, depressed, glossy, white,
usually smooth, and with an umbilical callus. They are very distinctive little
shells, but require a high-powered lens for their inspection. We have figured
only one species, but have included a key from the work of Pilsbry and
McGinty (1945) (see pi. lyy).
Key to the Florida Teinostoma
1. Umbilical callus encircled by a keel. 1.7 mm.; Palm Beach to Cape Florida.
1 2 to 50 faths. T. (Ajinulicalhis) lituspalmarum Pils. and McG.
2. Umbilical callus and columellar lobe not closing the umbilicus completely;
3 mm.; southeast Forida. 80 fms
T. (Ellipetyhts) cocolitoris Vi\s. ^nd McG.