Smaller and less common than the Black-foot Pāua and it has a more corrugated shell. It is reddish to yellow brown in colour but is often heavily encrusted. Juvenile shells have especially prominent ridges and can have radiating stripes of red in a green background. There are usually 3 body whorls. The shell interior is silvery pink with bluish flecks. The animal itself is black with a yellow foot and tentacles.

It lives on wave exposed rocky reefs from the low tide zone to 5m. Adults are usually found singly or in small groups on open rock surfaces or in crack and crevices in algal beds. Juveniles are found under cobbles.

Graze on algae on the rocks and drift seaweed.

This species is faster and more agile than Black-foot pāua but it strong suction foot is less powerful. Paua are nocturnal.
Like all paua, these animals are haemophiliacs and if cut can bleed to death. Must be placed foot down on the reef if being returned, otherwise very vulnerable to predation. Daily limit per person 10, minimum size 80mm. Must be landed after collection still in the shell.

NZ Coastal Marine Invertebrates; Vol 1 NZ Marine Fishes: Paul