Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands; 3 to 50 m.

Shell to 167 mm; color cream to orange-beige, with 3 rows of squarish brown spots per whorl, 4 on body whorl; outline of whorls slightly convex with somewhat indented subsutural band; protoconch 3 1/2 conical whorls; subsutural band flat, defined by groove which becomes progressively more shallow; early sculpture may be very strong with well developed nodes on subsutural band except for subsutural band and microscopic axial striae; aperture quadrate; columella curved; operculum opaque brown.
(Bratcher & Cernohorsky)

Terebra achates and Terebra consobrina may be separated from this species by having shells with spiral rows of punctations and 2 rows of spots per whorl, 3 on body whorl.