Typical species large, 37-49 mm. in height, broadly-fusiform, with a capacious body-whorl, ending in a short twisted and recurved anterior canal. Surface smooth, apart from regular scarcely raised narrow spiral cords picked out in purplish-brown upon a buff ground. Spire whorls only with weak axials and there is a distinct shoulder sulcus. Variations include strong axial folds over all post-nuclear whorls (marwicki), narrow with subobsolete sculpture and unicoloured yellowish-buff (stewartianum), and broadly fusiform, with narrow raised brown spirals upon a whitish ground, and with a weak shoulder sulcus (inutabile).
Height 38-49 mm., width 18-23 mm.
New Zealand : South Island, southern half; Stewart, Chatham, Snares, Antipodes, Auckland (type) and Campbell Islands