Oliva sayana Ravenel, 1834 Mud Colony Specimens

    When we think of Oliva sayana here in northeast Florida, the image comes to mind of a very glossy shell crawling in clean beach sand. However, as this image of three live specimens collected in mud demonstrates, the substrate in which this species lives has a profound affect on the shells appearance.  While not all specimens  from the "mud colony" exhibit this degree of erosion, all are affected in some manner - primarily on the ventral surface.

Oliva sayana Ravenel, 1834 Mud Colony Specimens

Big Talbot Island, Duval Co., Florida (58-67 mm.)