Shell medium-sized, attaining height of 14.1 mm, width of 12.1 mm, conical, nonumbilicate, finely sculptured. Protoconch 375 µm maximum diameter, 1 whorl. Teleoconch whorls about 8, flat; first whorl with low, rounded axial riblets and 2 strong, beaded spiral cords; axial riblets disappearing on second whorl; spiral sculpture increasing by intercalation to 10-12 cords and 0-2 threads, cords finely beaded; periphery of first 2-2.5 whorls sharply carinate, set with sharply conical beads; periphery becoming narrowly rounded on subsequent whorls, beads becoming finer, rounded; peripheral cord Splitting into 2 subequal, adpressed cords on fifth whorl; periphery obscurely multiangulate when viewed from base. Base weakly convex, with 14-20 narrow, sharp, very finely beaded spiral cords. Aperture subquadrate, lips thin, finely crenulate; columella short, weakly concave, thickened. Shell ground color golden yellow with greenish iridescence; periphery with regularly spaced, spirally elongate pinkish spots. Animal (in alcohol) white; cephalic tentacles long, slender, gradually tapering, right longer than left, ocular peduncles long, slender, with large, black eye at tips; epipodium with 4 pairs of tentacles decreasing in size posteriorly, neck lobes well-developed, thin, semicircular, smooth.

Shells of Calliostoma cnidophilum are most similar to the holotype of C. hilare but differ by being proportionately broader; by having an obscurely multiangulate peripheral profile when viewed from the base; by having finer, more numerous spiral cords above the periphery; by having the spiral cords more finely beaded; and by having a shorter, thicker columella. The radula (formula oo.5.1.5.oo) differs from that illustrated by Clench and Turner for C. pulchrum by having the rachidian teeth with much broader bases and cusps and by having narrower cusps on the lateral teeth. Observations made from the submersible JOHNSON-SEA-LINK II indicate that C. cnidophilum may feed on octocorals (M. G. Harasewych, personal com¬munication; see also Harasewych et al, 1992, fig. 12).

Off Ilets-a-Goyaves, Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles, JOHNSON-SEA-LINK II Station JSL-I1-1845, 16°10'00"N, 61°49'08"W, in 306 m.
Distribution: Calliostoma cnidophilum is known from the Lesser Antilles in depths of 152-357 m; living specimens were collected in 306 m and 174-357 m.