Shell surfaces are usually very smooth and shiny. They are rayless, yellow, yellowish tan, or olive in color. They become darker in older individuals. Pseudocardinal teeth are thin, compressed, and elevated. They contain two in each valve.
Lateral teeth are thin and very curved.
They contain two in the left valve and one in the right valve. The hinge line is S-shaped. The beak cavity is very deep. The nacre is usually white, but tinged with pink or white salmon. The shell has four layers on non-living material made primarily of calcium carbonate.