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lettered olive

snail
Also known as: Oliva sayana

Quick Summary

The lettered olive (Oliva sayana) is a marine snail belonging to the family Olividae. These snails are known for their distinctive shells, which are smooth, polished, and often have an agate-like sheen with fine markings. The shell is oval with a pointed apex and a long, narrow aperture.

Olives are burrowing snails found in sandy bottoms. The lettered olive, common in southeastern American waters, typically reaches about 6 cm (2.5 inches) in length. The family Olividae includes numerous species, many of which are tropical and possess brightly colored shells. Fossils of the genus Oliva date back to the Eocene Epoch, over 57 million years ago.123

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