File Shells of the Limidae Family are similar to Pectens but are more obliquely ovate in shape, with less pronounced auricles (ears) or only one pronounced auricle. The shells outer surface may be smooth, ribbed, or scaly and the hinge is toothless. They are generally white in color. File species are able to swim in a manner similar to scallops, but most still attach themselves to solid substrate by means of byssus (thread-like anchor lines). They have tentacles that extend from their mantle.
File shells are suspension feeders, filtering plankton and fine detritus from the surrounding water. In turn they are prey upon by crabs, predatory mollusks, rays and sea stars.
The File Shells have a global distribution and are found from shallow to very deep waters. There are one hundred thirty global species in the Limidae Family of which five are found along the coastlines of the Baja Peninsula.