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False olives

The Pseudolividae was previously regarded as a subfamily of the Olividae, but was recently elevated to family level on anatomical characters.  The family has undergone a decline in diversity and geographical range over geological time, having originated in the Late Cretaceous and peaked in diversity in the Paleocene. There are now  about 100 living species in 14 genera.   There are only two living species in Australian waters, both in the genus Zemira, but several fossil species have been named.  The living species occur subtidally, down to about 150 metres in NSW and down to 350 metres in Queensland ; they are fairly uncommon. 

Family references:  

Ponder, W.F. and Darragh, T.A. 1975. The genus Zemira H. and A. Adams (Mollusca: Neogastropoda).  Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 3(2):89-105.  

Vermeij, G.J. 1998.  Generic revision of the neogastropod family Pseudolividae. The Nautilus 111(2):53-84

Coverage : All NSW species of the family are treated here.

Identification Notes: Pseudolivid shells are characterised by a spiral groove on the lower half of the body whorl, a small spike on the outer lip at the end of the groove, spiral grooves over the whole surface, and a simple outer lip.