Shell small, creamy white, oblong-ovate, depressedly conical, arched from apex to anterior end; apex situated about one-quarter the length of shell from posterior margin. Surface of shell cancellated by radial and concentric ridges, the former being slightly stronger. Interior white, margin crenulated. Anterior end with a narrow slit about one-third the distance from anterior edge to apex, the slit continuous with a furrow which extends as far as the apex. Size : 0,5 inch.

Emarginula dilecta A. Adams, 1852a. (Synonyms: Emarginula clathrata Pease, Sowerby, 1866; E. subclathrata Pilsbry, 1890; E. peasei Thiele, 1915.) Length, 4 mm; diameter, 3 mm; height, 1.5 mm. Shell: conical-depressed; apex posterior; marginal slit short; with widely spaced nodular ribs; white. Sculpture: 18 to 20 widely spaced radiating ribs crossed by smaller spirals forming nodules at the junctions; interspaces microscopically cancellate. Color: white.
This species is known from five or six shells found in sediments at depths of 5 m off reef fronts on Oahu and from coral communities on Maui and Hawaii. Shells appear to be more common on Midway, where they are not infrequently encountered in beach drift.
E. dilecta occurs throughout the Indo-West Pacific from the east coast of Africa to the Philippines and southern Japan.

This small, ornate species is found in shallow water in New South Wales and south-western Australia as well as Victoria where it is of infrequent occurrence.