[8] Like other sea snails, animals in the Laonidae family have calcareous shells secreted by a mantle which covers the body.

[13] As opithsobranchs, these species are simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning they have both sets of reproductive organs within one individual at the same time.

However, due to the small size of species in Laonidae, their diet most likely consists of diatoms, filamentous algae, and foraminiferans.

[15] Many species of Laonidae are found on Atlantic coastlines, such as the Eastern United States and Western Europe.

[16] A few species are found on the Northern California coast, like the Philine californica Willett, 1944 recently proven to be part of Laonidae.

[15] Within the water column, species in this family are mostly found in soft-bottoms of sand or mud and sometimes near seagrass or algae.