[3] R. palpebrosa is a small squid growing to approximately 45 mm (2 in) in mantle length.

[4] The mantle is rounded posteriorly and not fused with the head dorsally.

It usually lives at depths between 75 and 550 m.[4] It is a benthic species and has a wide depth range, sometimes coming to within 10 m. of the surface in the fiords of north Norway and being recorded as deep as 1250 m.[6] Fertilisation is internal and communal clusters of large numbers of eggs are laid.

[2] Each egg measures 7 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) in diameter and they are laid in spring and summer in the tissues of certain silicaceous sponges in the class Demospongiae.

R. palpebrosa is itself eaten by larger fish and various marine mammals.