This medium-sized keyhole limpet is commonly found under rocks in both the intertidal and subtidal zones. It has a fleshy cream body, marbled with brownish-grey, with a mantle that partly, but never fully extends over the shell. The shell itself is a regular oval shape, as is the keyhole aperture through which the siphon extends. It is most likely to be mistaken with Amblychilepas oblonga, which differs in that it has an oblong teardrop-shaped keyhole aperture, and its cream body is red-marbled, giving it an orange to reddish overall appearance.
