Amalda australis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amalda australis
A shell of Amalda australis
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Amalda (Baryspira) australis (G. B. Sowerby I, 1830)· accepted, alternate representation † Amalda waikopiroensis (Suter, 1917) Ancillaria australis G.B. Sowerby I, 1830 (original combination) Ancillaria pyramidalis Reeve, 1864 Baryspira australis (G.B. Sowerby I, 1830) † Baryspira australis epacra Olson, 1956

Amalda australis, also known as the southern olive, is a type of medium-sized sea snail. It is a gastropod, which means it's a kind of mollusc like slugs and other snails. This snail belongs to the Ancillariidae family.

These snails are predators, meaning they hunt and eat other small creatures. They live in sandy areas along the coast, where the tide goes in and out. This kind of environment is good for forming fossils. Scientists have found Amalda australis fossils from the Pliocene epoch, which was millions of years ago. These old fossils look very similar to the snails alive today, showing they haven't changed much over time.

Where Southern Olives Live

A live Amalda australis found in a seagrass bed at Kohimarama Beach, Auckland, New Zealand.

This marine snail lives only in New Zealand. It is found in the waters around the country.

See also

In Spanish: Amalda australis para niños