Beau's Vitrinella
While looking for minis at the Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel this past week, I ran across a shell I never noticed before. This little guy is a BEAU’S VITRINELLA and it’s only 3/8 of an inch big. It was near the area I was finding WENTLETRAPS, TUSKS, and BABY’S EARS so I was very focused on the small shells. 
It’s a pretty little shell so I will definitely be on the lookout for more of them now that I know the shape, pattern and can call it something other than “cutie little guy that looks like a flattened tiny white button shell”.
This is what it looked like on the beach when I found the VITRINELLA.
I also found this shell that measures about an inch at the lighthouse beach. I thought it could be faded PERIWINKLE but just to be sure it wasn’t a tree snail or something, I asked my land snail friend H.L. Lori if she knew what it was. Without seeing the shell in person, she thought it looked about right to be a PERIWINKLE. Thanks, HL!
This is another view after I brought it home.
It looks like a MANGROVE PERIWINKLE, doesn’t it?
Since I’m on the seashell identification kick, I thought I’d show you this shell too. Let me make this clear… this is not a Sanibel area shell. This was a gift from Terri and Dennis who found it where they live… around the Seattle, WA area. I didn’t know what to call this one either so I asked my California shell friend Scott R. to identify it for me (thanks, Scott!). He says it’s a LEWIS MOON SNAIL and it’s the largest MOON SNAIL in the world. It’s about 4 inches wide. It’s huge!
I found a great home for it right beside the shell sculpture Carla from Love Letters From The Sea blog.
Terri and Dennis also brought quite a few SAND DOLLARS from the Pacific. They are just as beautiful as our Sanibel SAND DOLLARS but they don’t have the slits like ours. Thank you Terri and Dennis! I found a nice home for them as well….right beside our CARIBBEAN CONCHS and other shells we found in Belize 2009 .
Pam, I continue to be impressed with your increasing interest in the smaller, “mini” shells. On Sanibel I have only collected a few of the Beau’s Vitrinella, http://shellmuseum.org/shells/shelldetails.cfm?id=28 and http://www.gastropods.com/0/Shell_1810.shtml . As you have found, they are usually with the other smaller shells. A small, but very beautiful shell.
Hi Pam! We’ve been going to Sanibel since 1984 and I’ve never seen this shell before. What a beauty!
A nice collection of shells today, Pam. I really like the displays of the same shells in the wire tiered baskets. Thanks!
Hi: What beautiful pictures! Do you usually find your mini-treasures more on one side of the fishing pier than the other? I never seem to have much luck at the Lighthouse and this year I’m determined! Thanks!
This year at the lighthouse beach, we have found probably 90 percent of our mini treasures on the lighthouse side of the pier. Good luck!
thanks for your response and for sharing your experiences. Do you stay fairly close to the pier? thanks
I love the display pictures. I am always looking for new ways to show off my treasures. I would love to see more!
I love the display pics too! I’m always looking for new ways to display my shells!
Wow Pam, you really got those sand dollars to lighten up very nicely. I am glad you like them. It was our pleasure to bring them to you.
Thank you! A little bit of bleach to water and let them dry out in the back yard on a screen to let the sand run through.
I’ve been lovin the feedback on the display! So now I’ll be taking more photos of shell displays- thanks for your inspiration
I have one more treasure from the Pacific Ocean I need to give you. That means we will have to come back again very soon.
As Roxie said above, I would love to see more pics too!!! LOVE the tiered baskets!
I like the display too….all mine are in glass…need more ideas. I haven’t one of those shells either…I will definitely keep an eye out for them now.
I can only imagine what has come ashore here shell wise…that are unique that we never see.
I found one at Clearwater Beach over Spring Break but couldn’t identify it….Thanks! I hope to be down from Illinois in July. I know this sounds silly….but are there places to rent a shelling scoop or how do i take one on an airplane?
Some airlines let you carry the scoop on with you but Spirit makes you check it. I would call the airline to find out. Check on this scoop at http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/shelling-shop/ . They can mail it to your hotel and it will be waiting for you. Nice, huh?
Very nice- Thanks so much!!!
Beau’s Vitrinella…what a pretty little shell! Very nice. Always nice to find something new and unusual! The Periwinkle is cute too!
Just got back from San Francisco. Went to Reyes Point hoping to do some shelling but the wind was blowing so hard the sand felt like flying needles. Needed goggles. So, I came away empty this year. But next year I’m going to google for info on locations to find those Lewis Moon Snails. Maybe Scott would know if they can be found that far south? (I always wanted to use goggle and google in the same paragraph) Love to see a closeup of those baskets of shells.
LOL It’s late, so I’m a little groggy to google goggles to go get grande goodies. ;)
Hi – you’re so lucky to find that vitrinella! Good Eye! Enjoy!
Linda Lan
I would love ideas on ways to display my mini seashells collections.
Thanks