Olivella, common name the dwarf olives, is a genus of small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Olivellinae of the family Olividae, the olives. Olivella is the type genus of the family.^[2]

Quick Facts Olivella, Scientific classification ...

Olivella
Olivella floralia Duclos, 1844
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Olivoidea
Family:	Olividae
Subfamily:	Olivellinae
Genus:	Olivella Swainson, 1831[1]
Synonyms
Dactylidia H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 † Lamprodoma Swainson, 1840 junior subjective synonym Oliva (Olivella) Swainson, 1831 (original rank) Oliva (Olivina) d'Orbigny, 1841 Olivella (Anasser) Absalão & Pimenta, 2003 Olivella (Dactylidella) Woodring, 1928 Olivella (Dactylidia) H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 † Olivella (Lamprodoma) Swainson, 1840 junior subjective synonym Olivella (Macgintiella) Olsson, 1956 · Olivella (Niteoliva) Olsson, 1956· accepted, alternate representation Olivella (Olivella) Swainson, 1831 · Olivella (Olivina) d'Orbigny, 1841 Olivina d'Orbigny, 1841

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Adults in the Olivella species are usually quite small, hence the genus has the common name "dwarf olive". Species of Oliva are usually larger, but there are exceptions.

The shell of Olivella usually has a keel-like twist at the anterior end of the columella. The wall above it may be concave or have deep furrows. The inner lip can sometimes show a deep callus, and in many cases this extends over the parietal wall to the end of the aperture. This callus formation may extend to the spire but leave the suture open. Most species of Olivella have a thin, chitinous operculum, but this operculum is lacking in Olivella nivea, as is also the case in species of Oliva.

(Described as Lamprodoma) The spire is acuminate, elevated with the suture canaliculated. The inner lip is simple posteriorly, regularly and closely plicate at the fore part of the columella. The callus is moderate and restricted.^[3]

(Described as Dactylidia) The spire is obtuse, covered with a thick deposit of enamel. The aperture is narrow and plicate. The inner lip has a large, thickened callus, produced at the hind part, and covering and concealing the spire.

Species in the genus Olivella include:^[2][4]

Species brought into synonymy

• Olivella adelae Olsson, 1956: synonym of Olivella lactea (Marrat, 1871)
• Olivella alectona (Duclos, 1835) - San Pedro dwarf olive: synonym of Callianax alectona (Duclos, 1835)
• Olivella amoni Sterba & Lorenz, 2005: synonym of Janoliva amoni (Sterba & Lorenz, 2005)
• Olivella apicalis Kay, 1979: synonym of Ancillina apicalis (Kay, 1979)
• Olivella australis Tenison-Woods, 1878: synonym of Parviterebra brazieri (Angas, 1875)
• Olivella baetica Carpenter, 1864 - beatic dwarf olive: synonym of Callianax alectona (Duclos, 1835)
• Olivella biplicata (G. B. Sowerby I, 1825) - purple dwarf olive: synonym of Callianax biplicata (G. B. Sowerby I, 1825)
• Olivella columba (Duclos, 1835): synonym of Olivella esther (Duclos, 1835)
• Olivella dealbata (Reeve, 1850) - whitened dwarf olive: synonym of Olivella mica (Duclos, 1835)
• Olivella microspira Paulmier, 2007: synonym of Olivella miliola (d'Orbigny, 1842)
• Olivella millepunctata Duclos, 1840: synonym of Olivancillaria millepunctata (Duclos, 1840)
• Olivella monilifera (Reeve, 1850): synonym of Olivella mica (Duclos, 1835)
• Olivella paxillus Reeve, 1850: synonym of Oliva nitidula Duclos, 1835
• Olivella petiolita (Duclos, 1835): synonym of Olivella minuta (Link, 1807)
• Olivella plata (Ihering, 1909): synonym of Olivella puelcha (Duclos, 1835)
• Olivella purpurata Swainson, 1831: synonym of Olivella dama (W. Wood, 1828)
• Olivella simplex Pease, 1868: synonym of Olivellopsis simplex (Pease, 1868)
• Olivella striga (Reeve, 1850): synonym of Callianax strigata (Reeve, 1850)
• Olivella verriauxii (Duclos, 1857): synonym of Olivella minuta (Link, 1807)