Description. - Shell thin, not translucent, edges of disk finely crenulate. Valves inequilateral, right valve slightly more convex than left one. Left valve 6-7 ribs, right valve 6-7 ribs also. Anterior auricles 2.09-2.20 times as large as posterior ones. Anterior auricle right valve 10-12 ribs, left valve 11-15 ribs. Posterior auricle right valve 4-5 ribs, left valve 4-5 ribs also. Microsculpture consisting of very fine hollow radiating riblets. Top angle varying from 69°-77°. Colour often red, but orange and purple specimens have been examined also. Generally uniformly coloured, but white or cream markings near the top can be present. Dimensions. - Largest complete specimen examined measured 45.7 mm height x 39.6 mm width x 11.8 mm depth. Single valves examined reached over 60 mm height.
Distribution. - The species is confined to the Mediterranean and the adjacent area of the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to the Azores and south to Cape Verde.
Habitat. - On gravelly or corallinous bottoms from 10 -250 m.