At low tide, along open sandy beaches the olive snail is one of the most abundant snails on the beach. They can be an important food source for young octopus and giant pink sea stars.
Olive snails burrow down in the sand for safety and often the only part of the snail that is exposed is its long siphon which it uses as a snorkel. The constant plowing through the sand naturally polishes the snail’s shell.
The beauty of this snail’s shell is probably what lead Native Americans to use the shells as tender and jewelry for thousands of years.
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