Raphitoma purpurea is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.

They are crossed by numerous sharp, elevated ridges, which rise into angles upon the ribs, making the shell very rough, and giving it a cancellated appearance.

[2] The whorls are usually well rounded, clathrate by narrow ribs and almost equally strong revolving ridges.

The color of the shell is reddish or purplish brown, white-zoned below the middle of the body whorl, the zone distinct within the lip.

[3] This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean from Northern Europa, the Azores, the Canary Islands to Angola.