Olividae
Olive snails, also known as olive shells and olives, are a family of medium to large predatory marine molluscs with smooth, shiny, elongated oval-shaped shells. The shells which range in size from 5mm to 135mm often show various muted but attractive colors, and may be patterned. Some species are extremely variable in the colours and patterns that they exhibit. Olive snails are found worldwide, in subtropical and tropical regions and are found on sandy substrates intertidally and subtidally. The largest and one of the most attractive species is Oliva porphyria from the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Panama.
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About Olividae
The olive snails are all carnivorous sand-burrowers. They feed mostly on bivalves and carrion 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.
The shell surface is extremely glossy because in life, like the cowrie shells, the mantle almost always covers the shell. Olive shells are popular with shell collectors, and are also often made into jewelry and other decorative items.