A strong, roughly symmetrical, shell. The hinge is roughly midway on the shell. Greyish white colour externally with a glossy porcelain white internally. Grows to 80mm shell length.

Sandy shore. Lower mid -intertidal to shallow subtidal, seldom deeper than the spring low water mark. Needs reasonable water movement (eg mouths of estuaries, harbour channels and semi sheltered beaches). Found at or just below the surface in sand. Found in the North Is, Nelson, Marlborough region.

Filter feeder.

Filters small plankton out of the water. A popular edible fishery exists for this species.

Jones, M. B., Marsden, I, D., 2005, Life in the Estuary. Canterbury University Press. NZ Coastal Marine Invertebrates; Vol 1