It is a shallow water acorn barnacle of the Tropical Western Atlantic and Caribbean characterized by small accessory imbricating plates surrounding the base of the shell wall.

In contrast to Catolasmus, the other Northern Hemisphere catophragmid genus, imbricating plates extend only partway up the primary shell wall, and have usually four whorls, as opposed to 10.

[2] 491 As the imbricating whorls are small and apparently deciduous, this is explained as a result of grazing gastropods.

[2] 491 The scutum differs from that of Catolasmus in showing a well defined lateral depressor muscle pit.

Catophragmus imbricatus inhabits the lower littoral zone throughout the Western Atlantic (Bermuda) and West Indies.