Mitra eremitarum: Shell up to 80 mm (about 3 inches) in length, elongate-ovate, heavy and solid, sutures prominent and minutely crenulate. Whorls flatsided or slightly convex, numbering from 6-8 inclusive of nuclear whorls which are indistinguishable in adult specimens. Sculptured with shallow spiral grooves which are either smooth or obsoletely punctate, spiral ridges broad and flat or slightly stepped and bisected by dense axial growth-lines which become weakly nodulose at the point of intersection. In large adults, axial striae and spiral ridges become obsolete on the body whorl; spiral ridges number from 6-11 on the oenultimate and from 26-38 on the body whorl. Aperture longer than the spire, wide, smooth within; outer lip thickened and crenulate, posterior crenules occasionally overlaid by callus; columella glazed, calloused and laminated anteriorly in adults, and with 4-6 oblique folds. Siphonal canal straight, siphonal notch prominent. Cream to pale yellow in colour, ornamented with tan or dark rusty-brown longitudinal streaks which are generally interrupted on the body whorl by a pale zone; some specimens have the dark brown periostracum embedded in the spiral grooves. Aperture golden-yellow or light orange, crenulations on outer lip frequently spotted with brown. The colour pattern is partly obscured by a moderately opaque, dark brown periostracum.

Mitra eremitarum: Range: Cocos-Keeling Islands, Indian Ocean, to Melanesia and to the Ryukyu Islands.

Remarks: This is a very common species in the southwest Pacific, lacking the axial plications of incompta. Garrett (1880) reported the species from Tonga, Samoa, Kingsmill, Caroline L, Cook I., Society I., Tuamotus and the Hawaiian Islands. We have not seen actual specimens east of the Fiji Islands. M. eremitarum has not been recorded from the Hawaiian Islands.

Habitat: On coral reefs, under stones and coral on a sand substratum within the intertidal zone.