Shell morphology. Measurements up to 1.8 x 1.65 mm, with 3.5 whorls. General shape low-spired, with very ample last whorl. Whorls convex, regularly rounded, with an impressed suture. Surface of shell glossy and smooth, with distinct growth lines. There are some faint spiral striae around the umbilical area in the specimens from Morocco. In specimens from Corsica, this striation is commonly more conspicuous and may affect the whole shell. Shell material pellucid except towards the umbilical area where it may be thicker. Aperture rounded, ample. There is a narrow and deep umbilicus bounded by a sharp keel. The inside of the umbilicus is fluted in the direction of the growth lines. Colour pattern. Colour pattern includes a single tone of bright pink to pinkish markings on a translucent background. There are frequently some small opaque-white patches, and often larger amoeboid markings of the same white. In Moroccan specimens, the keel surrounding the umbilicus is white and devoid of markings. Specimens from Morocco are most commonly characterized by a series of squarish patches below the suture, the remainder of the whorl bearing some lines arranged more or less in the direction of the growth lines and variable in density and regularity. These may be interrupted by a series of white patches in the median part of the whorls and along the suture. Specimens from Corsica have a pattern of similar lineoles, but disrupted into small dots in a very delicate design. They also bear white markings but mainly along the sutures.

Radular morphology The central tooth is broadly ovate, somewhat tapering towards its two rounded sides. The first pair of laterals terminates with a strong, elongate, curved cusp, and bears 4 or 5 similar cusps gradually decreasing in size towards the inner side. There are also 1-3 (commonly 2) reduced cusps on the outer side. The next two pairs of laterals also terminate in an elongate curved and conical cusp, but there are only 2-4 others on the inner side and 2-3, not so reduced, on the outer side. The first 3 pairs are of similar size, whereas the fourth and fifth decrease. There are 3 to 5 cusps on the fourth pair, 3 often indistinct to the fifth. The first 2 or 3 rows or marginals are imbricated: the first pair is smaller than the next one and bears a conspicuous digitation to the inner side. The pectinate structure is achieved by the 6th to 7th row.

Shell reaching 2 x 1.8 mm, with 3.5 whorls, low spired with ample body whorl. Protoconch ca. 1 whorl, with faint, irregular, more or less anastomosing raised threads fading towards the distal part. Surface of teleoconch whorls apparently smooth under the stereomicroscope. showing a shagreened surface with irregular, very small punctures under SEM. Body whorl with faint spiral microsculpture around the umbilical area. Umbilicus narrow and deep, bordered by a sharp, white keel, fluted internally. Shell colour: protoconch opaque white. Colour pattern of teleoconch whorls with pink lines on a translucent background and opaque white areas. Pink lines arranged more or less parallel to the growth lines on early whorls, on the body whorl more or less disrupted and clustered to form a series of subsutural patches. A white surface with wavy contour around the umbilicus, and often also along the suture of the body whorl; a series of smaller opaque white patches on the periphery of the body whorl. Animal (based on ca. 50 spec, from Benzu, Sarchal and Torre de la Pena): cephalic tentacles very large, approximately the diameter of the shell when extended, colourless with slightly opaque axis. Right neck lobe broad and flat, with entire edge; left neck lobe with 5 7 long digitations. Three pairs of epipodial tentacles, all tapering and colourless, the anterior pair largest but considerably smaller than the cephalic tentacles, the middle pair hardly developed. Snout and sides of the foot purplish, higher part of the epipodium colourless except for black blotches on the edge of the opercular lobes between first and second pairs of epipodial tentacles. Sole of foot with a longitudinal median groove, not very conspicuous. Operculum: moderately thick, paucispiral with the nucleus clearly visible from outside even on large (2 mm) specimens. Radula: central broadly ovate-trapezoidal, flat, membranous without functional cutting edge. Five pairs of laterals, the innermost with their cutting edge overhanging the central, the outermost two pairs decreasing in size. Cutting edge of laterals with a series of 4-5 strong cusps decreasing in size to the inner side, and 2-3 cusps at some distance on the outer side. Marginals numerous, the innermost pair smaller than the next one, the other regularly decreasing in size towards the margin First 5-6 marginals with a broad, triangular terminal cusp and two cusps to the outer side, each one interlocking with the next tooth; first marginal with also one cusp to the inner side. Seventh and following marginals with comb-like termination and not interlocking.

Shell brittle, translucent, slim in form, higher than wider. It is peculiar the juncture of external lip at the penultimate whorl making one angle of about 90 degrees. Last whorl, rather solute, is 90% of total height. Umbilicus narrow but deep, crack-shaped, with a periumbilical zone careened white in colour. Aperture roundish in form. External lip thin and just sinuous. Operculum clearly calcareous. Ornamentation is made by a drawing of little lines reddish in colour, parallel to growth striae and by spots dirty white in colour. It can be recognized from T miniata, besides its smaller sizes, also due to juncture of external lip on penultimate whorl that, as far as mini-ata is concerned, is of about 135 degrees. T. punctura is another species similar to tingitana morphologically, but mainly it differs from it due to the decorative drawing that, as far as punctura is concerned, is made by small pits aligned. Average measures of adult specimens are around 1.5-2 mm in height.

T. tingitana is a distinctive form which may be separated from its closest ally, T. miniata, by (1) different umbilicus, clearly open and not a mere chink;
(2) very delicate chromatic pattern, often with fine lineoles, and mostly oriented parallel to the growth lines;
(3) pink tones of these patterns on translucent background; and
(4) more delicate, hyaline shell material except on the base.

The umbilical morphology recalls only that of T. algoidea from which it is otherwise distinct in all major features: (2, 3,4) as above, radula with elongate and curved cusps of laterals and imbricated marginals. Juveniles of T. tingitana are difficult to distinguish from juveniles of other species. There is no uncertainty when specimens are over 1 mm (the species reaches 1.8 mm), at which size the "larger" species have closed or reduced their umbilicus.
Sympatric specimens of T. miniata have been found throughout the range of this species, and sympatric T. nordsiecki in all localities of the Straits of Gibraltar. T. pullus s.l. was found jointly only at Tarajal (south shore of Ceuta), Benzu and in Corsica. The specimens from Corsica differ consistently from those found in Morocco, mostly by
(1) pattern disrupted into dots rather than continuous lineoles;
(2) the coloured area of the shell reaches to the umbilical keel; and
(3) there is a more conspicuous striation which may extend to the whole shell.

In our material, this species is represented only from the Straits of Gibraltar area and from Corsica, but it should be expected in other parts of the southern Mediterranean. Its extension seems to stop very sharply westwards at Tangiers, and it is unknown from Atlantic localities.
In Benzu, this species has been found at low water of spring tides, on seaweed and particularly on Halopteris scoparia, in well-oxygenated waters, not heavily surfed but never sheltered.
In Calvi Bay, it has been found on encrusted Cystoseira at a depth of several metres.

Habitat: it lives among algae in the infralittoral zone.
Distribution: it is found in several localities around the Straits of Gibraltar.
Many shells were collected at Getares (Spain), at 2-3 m depth.