Prunum torticulum Dall, 1881, is a small gastropod that reaches only 11.5 mm. The species can be distinguished from other species of Prunum by its unusual aspect (the word torticulum derives from the Latin word for “crooked,” “twisted,” or “arched”). In the original description of the species, Smithsonian zoologist William Healey Dall observed that “the twist gives the shell a very peculiar and highly characteristic appearance.” In addition to that, the shell spire is usually covered with a relatively thick coat of translucent glaze. The shell is completely smooth, glossy. The species has been found off southwest Florida, off the westernmost Florida Keys, and off Puerto Rico. And the illustration is by Patricia A. Starkey for the Museum’s Digital Imaging Project.
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