Original description, by Linnaeus (1758, p. 689):
"V. testa lentiformi compressa striata postice angulo recto angulata.
Rumph. mus. t. 43. f. C. Chama literata rotunda.
Gualt. test. t. 77. f. C.
Argenv. conch. t. 24. f. M.
Habitat in Indiis.
Impressio ani lanceolata."
Similar to Circe plicatina. Circe scripta can be distinguished by its less inflated valves and finer comarginal ribs.
Similar to Circe quoyi. Circe scripta has finer comarginal and oblique ribs. Its oblique ribs are confined to the anterior and posterior of the nepioconch; in C. quoyi, the oblique ribs meet in the central area.
Similar to Circe undatina. Circe scripta is more trigonal in shape and its valves are less inflated.
The overall shape is trigonal ovate. The posterior is lightly truncated, and the anterior and ventral margins are rounded. The anterior and posterior dorsal margins are nearly straight. The valves are not very inflated, and are equal in size and shape (equivalve). There is no gape when the valves are closed. Sculpture consists of growth lines and comarginal ribs that become more prominent as the animal grows. There are also oblique ribs restricted to the nepioconch; they are strongest at the anterior and posterior areas. The lunule is defined by a fine shallow groove and extends half the anterior dorsal margin. The umbones do not project and are slightly anterior; the beaks also point slightly anteriorly. There are no ribs in the escutcheon, but it is otherwise not well defined.
The exterior is white or tan. There may be brown blotches or tent marks; the tent marks may form comarginal or radial stripes. The lunule and escutcheon are typically marked with dark brown pigmentation. The interior is white with pink or purple and/or brown coloration concentrated in the central area and/or posteriorly.
The ligament is external, extends 1/3 to half the posterior dorsal margin and is supported by nymphal ridges. The hinge plates are slightly elongated vertically. On the left valve, there are three cardinal teeth. The anterior tooth (2a) is not bifid, the central tooth (2b) is trigonal in shape and lightly bifid, and the posterior tooth (2b) is not bifid and fused with the nymph. There is also one anterior lateral tooth (A2) on the left valve. On the right valve, there are three cardinal teeth. The anterior (3a) is not bifid, and the central tooth (1) may be lightly bifid, and the posterior tooth (3b) is lightly bifid. There are also two anterior lateral teeth (A1, A3) on the right valve. The posterior adductor muscle scar is slightly larger and more elongate than the anterior, and the pallial sinus is absent.