Oliva panniculata is common in a couple of specific habitats at Kwajalein. Most often, they are found in fairly large pockets of sand on the top, more flat part of the seaward reef at depths of 3 to 10m. Occasionally, they are also found in similar sand pockets on the tops of large, flat-topped lagoon pinnacles. They are most often seen by sweeping the tops of wave-generated sand ripples. As this is an area that gets quite a bit of sand agitation from the waves, the small olives are extremely active and will start quickly digging back into the sand almost immediately upon being exposed.
Oliva panniculata is appears to come in two distinct color forms, one of them with longitudinal wavy lines forming a tented pattern. When sweeping the sand ripples, about every tenth olive bears a pattern of wavy lines like that in the left shell below. While they are generally considered the same species, there appears to be no intergrading between the patterns. Perhaps more significantly, limited observation suggests they may behave differently. Normal Oliva panniculata seems to be more active, digging back down into the sand when exposed more quickly than those with the tent patterns. More photos of the tented form may be seen here.
This handful of olives was living in a small sand patch at about 7m depth.
Created 8 October 2010
Updated 5 March 2020