Olive Shell
Encyclopedia
Olive shells, olive snails, or olives, scientific name Olividae, are a family
of medium to large predatory sea snail
s with smooth, shiny, elongated oval-shaped shells. The shells often show various muted but attractive colors, and may be patterned also. They are marine
gastropod molluscs in the family
Olividae within the main clade Neogastropoda
.
Also see the Olivellidae
, the dwarf olives, which were previously grouped in this family, but which now have their own family.
the family Olividae consists of three subfamilies:
s intertidally and subtidally.
and are known as some of the fastest burrowers among snails. They secrete a mucus similar to that of the Muricidae
, from which a purple dye can be made.
. Olive shells have a siphonal notch at the posterior end of the long narrow aperture
. The siphon of the living animal protrudes from the siphon notch.
The shell surface is extremely glossy because in life the mantle
almost always covers the shell.
, and are also often made into jewelry and other decorative items.
The shell of the lettered olive
, Oliva sayana, is the state shell of South Carolina
in the United States
.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of medium to large predatory sea snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s with smooth, shiny, elongated oval-shaped shells. The shells often show various muted but attractive colors, and may be patterned also. They are marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod molluscs in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Olividae within the main clade Neogastropoda
Neogastropoda
Neogastropoda is an unranked taxonomic clade of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. For many years prior to 2005 Neogastropoda was an order.- Description :...
.
Also see the Olivellidae
Olivellidae
Olivellidae, common name the "dwarf olives", are a family of small predatory sea snails with smooth, shiny, elongated oval-shaped shells. The shells sometimes show muted but attractive colors, and may have some patterning....
, the dwarf olives, which were previously grouped in this family, but which now have their own family.
Taxonomy
According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005)Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
the family Olividae consists of three subfamilies:
- Olivinae Latreille, 1825 - synonyms: Dactylidae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (inv.); Agaroniinae Olsson, 1956; Olivancillariidae Golikov & Starobogatov, 1975
- Ancillariinae Swainson, 1840 - synonym: Ancillinae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- † Vanpalmeriinae Adegoke, 1977
Habitat
These snails are found on sandy substrateSubstrate (biology)
In biology a substrate is the surface a plant or animal lives upon and grows on. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials and animals. For example, encrusting algae that lives on a rock can be substrate for another animal that lives on top of the algae. See also substrate .-External...
s intertidally and subtidally.
Life habits
The olive snails are all carnivorous sand-burrowers. They feed mostly on bivalves and carrionCarrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
and are known as some of the fastest burrowers among snails. They secrete a mucus similar to that of the Muricidae
Muricidae
Muricidae, common name murex snails or rock snails, is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails. With approximately 1,600 living species the Muricidae represent almost 10% of the Neogastropoda. Additionally, 1,200 fossil species have been recognised...
, from which a purple dye can be made.
Shell description
Physically the shells are oval and cylindrical in shape. They have a well-developed stepped spireSpire (mollusc)
A spire is a descriptive term for part of the coiled shell of mollusks. The word is a convenient aid in describing shells, but it does not refer to a very precise part of shell anatomy: the spire consists of all of the whorls except for the body whorl...
. Olive shells have a siphonal notch at the posterior end of the long narrow aperture
Aperture (mollusc)
The aperture is an opening in certain kinds of mollusc shells: it is the main opening of the shell, where part of the body of the animal emerges for locomotion, feeding, etc....
. The siphon of the living animal protrudes from the siphon notch.
The shell surface is extremely glossy because in life the mantle
Mantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...
almost always covers the shell.
Human use
Olive shells are popular with shell collectorsConchology
Conchology is the scientific or amateur study of mollusc shells. Conchology is one aspect of malacology, the study of molluscs, however malacology studies molluscs as whole organisms, not just their shells. Conchology pre-dated malacology as a field of study. It includes the study of land and...
, and are also often made into jewelry and other decorative items.
The shell of the lettered olive
Lettered olive
The lettered olive, Oliva sayana, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Olividae, the olive shells, olive snails, or olives.-Subspecies:Oliva sayana contains the following subspecies:...
, Oliva sayana, is the state shell of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Genera
Genera within the family Olividae include:- AgaroniaAgaroniaAgaronia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Olividae.-Species:Species within the genus Agaronia include:* Agaronia acuminata * Agaronia adamii Terzer, 1992...
- AmaldaAmaldaAmalda is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Olividae, the olives.-Species:Species within the genus Amalda include: * Amalda abyssicola Schepman, 1911* Amalda acuta Ninomiya, 1991...
- AncillaAncilla (gastropod)Ancilla, common name the ancillas, is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Olividae.-Species:Species within the genus Ancilla include:* Ancilla acuminata...
- AncillistaAncillistaAncillista is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Olividae.-Species:Species within the genus Ancillista include:* Ancillista albicans Lee & Wu, 1997* Ancillista aureocallosa Kilburn & Jenner, 1977...
- BaryspiraBaryspiraBaryspira is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Olividae, the olives.-Species:Species within the genus Baryspira include:* Baryspira australis Sowerby, G.B. I, 1830...
- Oliva
- OlivancillariaOlivancillariaOlivancillaria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Olividae.-Species:Species within the genus Olivancillaria include:* Olivancillaria carcellesi Klappenbach, 1965...
See also
- OlivellaOlivella (gastropod)Olivella, common name the dwarf olives, is a genus of small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Olivellidae, the dwarf olives...
This genus has now been moved to the OlivellidaeOlivellidaeOlivellidae, common name the "dwarf olives", are a family of small predatory sea snails with smooth, shiny, elongated oval-shaped shells. The shells sometimes show muted but attractive colors, and may have some patterning....
according to the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi.