Shell up to 58 mm (about 2,25 inches) in length, fusiformly-ovate to elongate-ovate, heavy and solid, sutures distinct and sometimes adpressed on the last 2 whorls. Whorls 7-9, apart from a worn, conical protoconch, first 2-3 postnuclear whorls minutely clathrate, later whorls with prominent, elevated, rounded or flat-topped spiral cords which number from 4-6 on the penultimate and from 14-20 on the body whorl; the interspaces of the ribs are broad and concave and sculptured with numerous, macroscopic, longitudinal hairlines. Aperture equal in height or longer than the spire, moderately narrow and smooth within; outer lip prominently thickened and occasionally reflected, and coarsely crenulate along its entire length. Columella glazed and with 4-5 oblique folds, siphonal fasciole straight or slightly twisted, siphonal notch distinct. White to cream in colour, ornamented with broad, dark reddish-brown axial zones which may form 2 interrupted broad zones on the body whorl; aperture and columella golden-yellow or orange. Periostracum thin, brown and moderately translucent. Height 52.1 mm, Width 18.9 mm, Height of aperture: 23.2 mm

This widely distributed species is superficially similar to M. chrysostoma Broderip, but differs in features of prominent spiral cords which continue without interruption to the margin of the outer lip and do not become faint or obsolete on the dorsal side of the body whorl; the margin of the outer lip is prominently crenulate along its entire length, and not smooth as in M. chrysostoma.

Gulf of Aden to Polynesia, the Hawaiian Islands and Clipperton Island. On reefs, in crevices and under coral, from the intertidal zone to a depth of 15 fathoms.