It has a smooth, pale yellow shell and attaches itself to one of the smaller spines on the oral surface (underside) of a sediment-dwelling sea urchin, such as Spatangus purpureus or an Echinocardium species.

[2] Montacuta substriata is native to the coasts of Western Europe, its range extending from Norway to the Mediterranean Sea.

[2] The male Montacuta substriata liberates gametes into the water column and the eggs are incubated for a while by the female.

Veliger larvae are then liberated into the sea where they are planktonic for several months before settling on the seabed and undergoing metamorphosis.

In their search, they are affected by water currents and attracted by a chemical signal from a potential sea urchin host; they show negative geotaxis.