Shells are small to medium sized (10 to 25mm). cone-shaped or olive-shaped. Spires can be flat or elongate in specimens of the same species from a common locality. There are 6 species in the genus per Cernohorsky (1991), Imbricaria hicolor, conovula, conularis, olivaeformis, punctata, and vanikorensis. The animals and radulae of all the species in this group are known.
The shells fall into two groups: cone-shaped or olive-shaped. The cone-shaped shells can have spires low to elongate and examples of each will be included. Within a species, the spire height can vary considerably. The animal of the type species Imbricaria conularis is transparent-white or light grey with large white spots on the body. The foot anterior has two large streaks of black extending from the edge of the foot toward the center, the tentacle pedestals are white at the base with dark grey around the eye. The tentacle is transparent white or light grey with small white spots and the tip is white. The siphon is transparent white or light grey flecked with white spots and is black at the base with black lines extending toward the tip which is white. Another species which is similar in animal color pattern is Imbricaria vanikorensis. The radula of the type species has a formula of 13-7-13, The predominate characteristics of the radula is a set of greatly enlarged, paired cusps on the central rachidian. In the type species there is a small cusp between the larger, paired cusps on the central rachidian. The lateral rachidian is characterized by a single giant cusp with numerous, smaller cusps on either side.
A second group is one with animals that are creamy white, with brown on the tentacles and often at the base of the siphon. This group is the most numerous and includes both cone-like and olive-like shells. The radula is similar to that of Imbricaria conularis but lacks the numerous small cusps, especially on the lateral rachidian. Following Cernohorsky (1976), this group includes Imb. olivaeformis, punctata, conovula, and hicolor.
Cernohorsky (1991) stated, "Species of Imbricaria are shallow water sand-dwellers. Imbricaria, Scabricola and species of the "Ziba" group of species appear to be closely related and probably diverged during Late Miocene times from a common ancestor". It is our observation that indeed, the animals are similar as are the radulae and habitat. The animals of the type species, Imbricaria conularis appear very similar to species listed by Cernohorsky as Ziba (Indo-Pacific only) and "Ziba".
The second group of species that have animals that are creamy-white or milky-white appear to have close relatives in Ziba (West African species), Scabricola (Swainsonia) as well as Subcancilla (Panamic only).