Fragile shell up to 2cm in length. The colour is variable and can include white, cream, pink, orange, brown and purple. The surface of the shell is smooth sculptured only with fine radiating and concentric lines.

Shell spindle shaped, robust in construction, 7-8 tumid whorls, up to 160mm. Mouth oval, about 60 % of height, siphonal canal short and open, lip reflected. Shell with fine growth and spiral lines, white to reddish colour, some adults with yellow internally. Some adult North Sea forms have a very flared lip.

Solid wedge shpaed shell up to about 10cm in length. The outside is purple, blue or brown in colour; the inside is pearl white bordered with purple or blue. The surface is sculptured with concentric rings.

Solid wedge shpaed shell up to about 15cm in length (though exceptionally may be bigger). The outside is purple, blue or brown in colour; the inside is pearl white bordered with purple or blue. The surface is sculptured with concentric rings.

Chalky white, fragile shell, up to about 4cm in length. Almost round. White to light yellow in colour. Sculpture of fine, sunken, concentric lines. Left valve three cardinal teeth; right valve two. No laterals. Orange siphons widely separated.

Fragile shell up to 3mm in length. It is white to translucent in colour. The surface is sculptured with fine concentric lines.

Solid shell up to about 8cm in length. The outside is dirty white to fawn in colour; the inside white. The surface of the shell is sculptured with numerous concentric lines. The right valve is very slightly larger than the left and the shells gape at the hind end. The pallial sinus is broad an deep.

Solid shell up to about 15cm in length. It is quite variable in appearance (possibly party due to growing in different salinities). The outside is dirty white to fawn in colur; the inside is white. The surface of the shell is sculptured with concentric rings and a few radiating lines. The right valve is slightly larger than the left and the shells gape at the hind end.

Brittle shell up to 5cm in length. The shell is dark brown in colour but obscured by brown periostracum (tends to appear black in older specimens). The inside of the shell is pearly tinged with blue or brown. The surface is sculptured with obvious concentric lines crossed with ribs in the anterior and posterior regions. The margin of the shell is crenulate where the ribs are present but smooth elsewhere.