The genus Antegibbaeum contains only this species. It is endemic to the western part of the Little Karoo, where it may occur in great numbers, usually on clayey soil in quartz patches and often accompanied by Gibbaeums.
At first sight, the plants are very similar to those of Argyroderma fissum. They are branched from the base, with upright or flat-growing stems, forming clumps up to 18 cm across.
The leaves of each pair are slightly unequal, greyish-green, sometimes reddish.
Older leaves are often covered in an unsightly black fungus (also see Cerochlamys).
The flowers have short stalks and are deep pink to violet-red; they are to 6 cm in diameter and appear in in late winter and early spring: August-September.
Common names for this species are volstruistone (ostrich toes) and bobbejaanvingertjies (baboon fingers).
With Gibbaeum petrense