Shell small to medium sized for the genus, solid, low spired, broadly umbilicate, nacreous within, suture deeply channeled: periphery with 2 strongly projecting spinose carinations. Nucleus of 1.5 flattened, singly carinate whorls: postnuclear whorls 3.5. Spiral sculpture on early postnuclear whorls consisting of a row of beads close to the suture and a projecting peripheral cord bearing fluted scales; on the final whorl below the suture there is first a broad horizontal shelf, followed by a prominent row of beads, then a slightly convex area sloping down and bearing 3 weak rows of beads, then a smooth concave area leading to the projecting peripheral keel, which bears regularly spaced fluted scales. Area between the 2 projecting carinations deeply cut, with a smooth vertical wall; the basal carination projects less strongly than the upper carination and bears more numerous fluted scales (3 in the same space for 2 on the upper carination). Base weakly convex, bearing 3 rows of fine beads away from the edge. Umbilicus broad, and bearing 3 coarsely beaded cords separated by nearly equal interspaces. Axial sculpture over the entire surface of fine raised lamellae. Peritreme complete (umbilical wall broken in holotype). Height, 2.9, diameter, 4.8 mm. A paratype specimen 4.8 mm in diameter lacks the upper 1/2 of the shell but has a mature lip, showing that the suture descends on the last 1/5 turn, that the mature lip is slightly thickened, and that 4.8 mm in diameter is approximately the mature size.

Arene stellata is the only low spired species with a stellate periphery known in the eastern Pacific. It is related to a group of similar Caribbean species, the best known of which is A. cruentata (Mtlhlfeld, 1829), the type species of Arene Adams & Adams, 1854. Arene stellata is smaller, lacks the red markings and has 2, rather than the 3 peripheral carinations of A. cruentata. Subgeneric separation of this group from those related to the other 2 species described above does not seem to be warranted, because there are Caribbean species not definitely assignable to either group.

Type Locality: Cove adjoining the west sides of Isla Partida and Espiritu Santo Islands, Baja California, Mexico, 24° 25' N, 110° 25' W, LACM station 67-27, 10 April 1966. The type lot, consisting of 5 fragmentary or immature dead specimens was collected by diving on rocky bottom at 20-30 feet by James H. McLean, from the R/V Sea Quest.
Type Material: Holotype, LACM 1394; 4 paratypes, LACM 1395.
Referred Material: SU 50999, 3 nepionic specimens, 14-25 fathoms, Espiritu Santo Island, Belvedere Expedition, 1960.