« Shell ventricose; hair transversely grooved; apex obtuse. » – O. F. Müller: Zoologiae Danicae Prodromus, Copenhagen 1776, p.242. – A specimen from English Channel, collected in Buccinum undatum traps, at 15-20m deep, between Jersey and Pirou, Cotentin, SW. Normandy, NW. France. 16mm.

« Shell obliquely subovate, very thin, fragile, pellucid whitish, covered with a rough brown epidermis with spiral raised striae ; first two whorls minute, body whorl ventricose ; aperture suboval and nearly as long as the shell ; inner lip not thickened and but slightly reflected. Inhabits Massachusetts. – Cab. Academy, No. 508. I. Lea. – A very perfect shell of this species was presented to the Academy by Dr. C. Pickering, who informed me that it adheres to rocks on the sea coast, and has the habits of the Patellae. » – T. A. Conrad: “Description of fifteen new species of Recent, and three of fossil shells, chiefly from the coast of the United States”, Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia vol. VI 1829-1830, part II Philadelphia 1831, p.266, V. rupicola.