This is a species that is found on well-lit rocks on the beach; specifically, it is found in the lower reaches of the beach, in the so-called "black zone" (on which, see 1054120, where another species of the same genus is illustrated).

The specimen here is fairly dry, having been above water for several hours. Its surface lacks the fine cracks that are a feature of V. maura, and, as is clear from this photograph, it has a quite different colour (V. maura is black). This specimen also displays the usual white prothallus (this is an area at the margin of the lichen which lacks algal cells).

As well as the larger dark pits that are evident on its surface, an examination of the lichen through a hand-lens revealed some details that are not evident in the photograph: in particular, the surface of the lichen could be seen to be covered with a pattern of closely-spaced tiny pale dots.