Southwest Florida Shells

by José H. Leal

Family Olividae

Oliva nivosa bollingi

Clench, 1934

Bolling's Olive

Shell size to 60 mm; this is one of the most variable species in the genus Oliva, both in color and shape. The species may show a tent-like pattern, or be partially or completely covered with a layer of reddish-brown color. The species has ample distribution in the western Atlantic, but only recently appeared on the islands of Sanibel and Captiva. The shell in the main image was collected by Kadence Newman on the Captiva side of Blind Pass, on July 2011. The shells in the additional image were collected in the past few years by Jeanne and Chuck Richards between Bowmans Beach (Sanibel) and Redfish Pass (Captiva).