BEACHCOMBER

Beautiful, littlePURPLE OLIVE SHELLS, Callianax biplicata, range along the west coast of North America from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Magdalena Bay in Baja California, Mexico. Living 8 to 15 years, this sea snail is active at night, moving with the tides and hiding under the sand for protection when the tide goes out. The snail burrows in intertidal and subtidal environments with its long siphon sticking out of the sand like a snorkel. It also has a foot that helps it plow through the sand, leaving a trail on the sand’s surface.

The shell is elongated, smooth and shiny. Its mantle covers an outer flap membrane. The membrane secretes enamel that forms the hard shell, which protects the soft parts of the animal. Purple olive shells are about 1 inch long. Shell colors are typically grayish purple, but colors can range from a near white to lavender and from light brown to dark brown with yellow highlights. Natural predators include the sea stars, octopus, moon snails and seagulls. Native Americans used the shells as beads or currency, and empty olive shells can be home to hermit crabs. ■

Class: Gastropoda Order: Neogastropoda Family: Olividae Genus: Callianax Species: C. biplicata

Purple olive shells

CORONADOBEACHCOMBER

Coronado’s shoreline changes with the weather, tides and time of year. Coronadobeachcomber explores our shores daily on the beach or at the bay, paying attention to the interesting animals, shells and sea life. Follow @coronadobeachcomber on Instagram.