This species is one of the most popular and profitable mollusks of lagoonal and coastal sites in the Mediterranean and adjoining Atlantic coast where it has been collected since a long time ago as food.

The pallial sinus is U-shaped, not extending beyond the midline of the shell, but reaching a point below the posterior part of the ligament.

The inner surfaces of the shell are glossy white, often with yellow or orange tints, and with a bluish tinge along the dorsal edge.

[4][5][6] Ruditapes decussatus is cultured from the Atlantic coast of France, Spain, Portugal and in the Mediterranean basin.

Their main predators are shore crabs (Carcinus maenas); starfish (Asterias rubens and Marthasterias glacialis); gastropods (Natica sp.

Marine aquaculture production of grooved carpet shell in 2003 was 3,007 t in Portugal, which excludes non-aquaculture harvesting of the species.