Typically shells are slightly to moderately elongate, and the animal is strongly inflated, especially near the hinge.

This clam burrows into the substrate and this process tends to wear away the outer surface of the valves and smooth them off.

The mantle, the soft body wall which covers the animal's internal organs, projects from between the valves when they are open and is brightly coloured.

It can be various shades of blue, green, purple, gold, orange or brown, often patterned with spots, stripes or squiggles.

Its range extends from Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan to Indonesia, the Philippines, Palau, New Guinea, Australia, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.