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Callianax biplicata (G. B. Sowerby I, 1825)
Purple Olive
Family: Olividae
Introduction to the Gastropods of BC

Photograph

© Aaron Baldwin     (Photo ID #7694)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Callianax biplicata in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


Olive shells are predatory snails related to whelks, mud snails, and tritons. There are 3 species represented on the west coast, but only Callianax biplicata is found commonly on B.C. beaches intertidally; the others are less common and tend, anyway, to live more subtidally. Olive shells C. biplicata are generally buried in the sand when the tide is out. They are nocturnally active, emerging from buried positions at dusk to search for small invertebrates to eat, or dead animal matter to scavenge. Predators include sea stars, crabs, shore birds, fishes, octopuses, and moon snails Polinices. Effects of the last are most visually obvious to a beach-walker, as shells with characteristic counter-sunk drill-holes bearing testimony to moon-snail predation are often found in abundance. Defenses of olive shells include fast crawling, burial and, sometimes, swimming. For more on predators and defenses of Callianax go to A SNAIL'S ODYSSEY.

Note Author: Tom Carefoot, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Olivella biplicata (Sowerby, 1825)
Olivella fucana T. S. Oldroyd, 1921

Additional Range and Status Information Links

Ocean Biogeographic Information System Distribution Map

General References

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