This species, better known by the Gmelin name, lusitanica, is rather small, ovate-conical, and densely sculptured with fine granular radials. The external colour is greyish, or pale brownish, speckled with black, and internally it is broadly radially banded in dark puplish-brown. A nearly related species is the narrowly-ovate piperata from Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands.
Shell rather small, up to 35 mm. (1 3/8 inches) in length, solid, ovate, tall-conical, with the apex slightly anterior to the middle. Sculpture consisting of very numerous, closely spaced, narrow, somewhat uneven, granulose radial riblets. Colour, externally pale yellowish-brown to greyish, often with the rib-granules black, internally broadly rayed in dark-brown or blue-black on a greyish-silvery ground. Spatula white callused, often surrounded by a yellowish-brown stain.
Radula—Formula 3 + 1 + (2+1+2) + 1 + 3. Radula with or without a narrow median central tooth, remaining four centrals of uniform size, and arranged in a horizontal line. Lenth 28-35 mm; Width 24-28,5 mm; Height 12,5 to 17 mm.

This species is roundish in outline but its main characteristic is that generally it is quite elevated. Sculpture made by several radial little ribs, granulous and black punctured. Growth striae are thin. Externally greyish in colour with pits and radial little lines black in colour. Internally there are quite visible numerous rays alternatively brown and greyish in colour, more visible and showy near peristome. Scar of foot, generally dark brown in colour, is central and always quite evident. The typical granulous sculpture and h/D ratio (always more than 0.35) make it easily recognizable from its similar ones. Perhaps this species is better known under the name of'Patella lusitanica Gmelin, 1791. Cretella et al (1991) point out the anatomical characters so to recognize this species easily from P caerulea and from P ulyssiponensis.Average measures of adult specimens are around 35-40 mm in diametre.

Atlantic coast of south west France, Portugal, Spain, Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.

Habitat: it lives on the tide line in the mesolittoral zone.
Distribution: common all over the Mediterranean, more or less plentifully according to the locality