Polpast Olive

Polpast Olive, Americoliva polpasta

 

Polpast Olive, Americoliva polpastaSize: 4.8 cm (1.9 inches) x 2.8 cm (1.1 inches).

The Polpast Olive, Americoliva polpasta (Duclos, 1833), is a member of the Olividae Family of Olive Shells. They are sturdy shells that consist of five whorls, a moderately high and pointed spire. The inside lip of the aperture wraps around the base of the shell and is marked with several grooves. The exterior of the shell is shiny gray, with numerous brown specks, spots and chevrons; the interior is white to cream. Polpast Olive Shells reach a maximum length of 5.0 cm (2.0 inches).

Polpast Olives are found on and within sand substrate from the intertidal zone to depths up to 115 feet. They are found from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur south along the southwest coast of Baja and from Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja California in the Sea of Cortez south to Peru.

Synonyms include Oliva callosa, Oliva kerstichi and Oliva polpasta.