Gibbula varia: Shell solid, conic depressed in outline, whorls not much convex, suture not much broad. Last whorl angular on the periphery, base not much convex. Sculpture made by numerous spiral little cords flat, equal among them. They are present at the base too. Umbilicus wide and deep, the cavity of which is white in colour. Margin careened, columella arched, aperture subquadrangular, pearly internally. Very changeable colour pattern: either on a dirty white or greyish ground there are present axial flammulae in several colour: grey, brown, greenish and lighter dots. No rare specimens uniformly blackish in colour (variant afra Monterosato). Operculum corneous, thin. Premature forms are more depressed in outline, last whorl very angular with one coloured band on the periphery. The adult specimens average measures are around 12-13 mm in diametre.

Gibbula varia: Monterosato (1888) set up some varieties (manciarina, marginata, iumiclosa) of no taxonomie value. Juvenile specimens can be mistaken with adult specimens of G. vimontiae which is distinguishable due to its lower solidity, to its more elevated spiral, to its more convex whorls and to its brittler sculpture.

Gibbula varia: Very common all over the Mediterranean. it lives in the mesolittoral zone and in the upper part of the infralittoral zone, on hard substrata. It is a gregarious species.