Mitra pele: Shell up to 50 mm (2 inches) in length, elongate-ovate, thick and solid, sutures distinct but not deep. Teleconch of about 7 almost flat-sided whorls, protoconch missing; sculptured with smooth and thin, but sometimes minutely punctate spiral grooves which number 8-10 on the penultimate and up to 30 on the body whorl. Under magnification, closeset, fine longitudinal striae are discernible on the shell; base of shell with about a dozen oblique spiral cords. Aperture moderately narrow, about equal in height to the spire, smooth and white within; outer lip thickened and simple. Columella white and calloused, parietal wall with a white callosity, columella with 5-7 close-set and oblique folds; siphonal canal straight, siphonal notch distinct. Adult shell uniformly tan under a thin, dark brown periostracum, aperture and columella white; juvenile shells are light orange-brown on the anterior half of the last whorl and dark brown elsewhere.

Mitra pele: This rare species has been confused with the S. E. Australian M. carbonaria Swainson, and the West African M. nigra (Gmelin). M. pele is a deepwater species which has not been recorded outside the Polynesian region. The species reported as M. pele from Sagami Bay, Japan, by Kuroda & Habe (1971), is a juvenile specimen of M. chinensis Griffith & Pidgeon.

Mitra pele: Range: Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands. Habitat On a stone and coral-rubble sub-stratum, from 17 to 125 fathoms.