Shells small to moderately large, more or less cypraeform, often thin-walled, often more slender than the true cowries, always with a labial margin devoid of teeth inside; « the most outstanding characteristic to be seen in this group is the transverse dorsal striation present in nearly all of the species (with only a few exceptions); only the cyphomids and a very small number of species in other genera lack this typical sculptural character. The dorsal striation may vary from being restricted in number over either terminal process, to a complete ornamentation of the dorsal surface, the base, and even the columella. Unlike the shells in the closely related family Cypraeidae, the ovulids are not, as a general rule, as spectacularly colored and ornamented. » – C. N. Cate: “A systematic revision of the recent cypraeid family Ovulidae”, The veliger suppl.15, Berkeley 1973, p.1.
 
A reference tool for the family in Mediterranean waters has been provided by A. Nappo: “An overview of the Mediterranean ‘allied cowries’ (Gastropoda: Ovulidae) with the description of Xandarovula aetheria n. sp.”, Bulletin of the National Museum of Natural History, Malta vol. 1(1), Mdina 2024, p.37.
 

Shells small, with some sculpture which is mainly spiral; the outer lip is often strongly denticulate.
 

« Shell small, limpet-like, irregular, with a short spire which becomes concealed with the growth, the surface radiately ribbed when young; mouth large and wide, subcanaliculated in front, the lips irregular, simple in the adult, the inner one callously excavated, no operculum. » – G.»W.»Tryon: Manual of conchology, structural and systematic ser.1 vol.7, Philadelphia 1885, p.241. The comparison with the limpets can come from the habit that these animals have of digging a lodge at the surface of their host, or prey. But the shell itself is much more irregular than any limpet, and possesses a spire. Aperture widely expanded laterally; spire narrow.
 

« Shells are ovate to sub-ovate with a distinct, prominent but not transversing cord-like funiculum. The animals show zoo-mimesis and are living commensale. » – D. Fehse: “Contributions to the knowledge of the Ovulidae. XVI. The higher systematics”, Spixiana vol. 30(1), München 2007, p.121.
 

Shell small to medium-sized, biconical, gibbous, moderately thin-walled, with a short abapical terminal, a pointed adapical terminal, and a conspicuous bead on the adapical extremity of the inner lip (the funiculum); apex sunken in the spire, which is covered by the outer lip shoulder; fossula and columellar depression rather visible; outer lip denticulated inside.
 

« Shells rhomboid, sub-rhomboid or lanceolate with a distinct, prominent transversing cord-like funiculum. The animals show an aposematism or a combination of zoo- and allo-mimesis. They are living commensale except the genera Cyphoma and Pseudocyphoma – the latter two are living as predators of Anthozoa. » – D. Fehse: “Contributions to the knowledge of the Ovulidae. XVI. The higher systematics”, Spixiana vol. 30(1), München 2007, p.122.
 

Shell small, fusiform, with a callous external lip; terminals obsolete; aperture a little broadened anteriorly.
 

Shell small, more cylindrical in shape than in Simnia, and thin-walled; adapical terminal short, pointed and/or slightly rostrate; transverse dorsal striae obsolete or grouped at the extremities; aperture widened anteriorly; fossula shallow.