Moderately low-spired, large (up to 110 mm in length), with eight teleoconch whorls. Protoconch of about two smooth, bulbous volutions, terminating at small, almost straight varix.
Spiral ornamentation on first three teleoconch whorls of three rounded primary cords and fourth secondary cord on subsutural ramp; by fourth whorl, secondary spirals intercalated. Body whorl and posterior part of siphonal canal marked by series of strong, nodulose primary and secondary cords separated by numerous weak tertiary threads.
Axial ornamentation on first two teleoconch whorls of 12 to 14 rounded ribs; on third whorl every third rib strengthened to form varix bearing long, heavy, apically-directed shoulder spine and smaller spine (truncated) at periphery. By fifth whorl, third intervarical axial ridge added at adapertural end of intervarical area; on sixth whorl, fourth ridge appearing in advance of other three; on body whorl four, occasionally five, low intervarical ridges, nodulose where crossed by spiral cords. Numerous lamellose growth lines give surface shagreened appearance. Three heavy rounded varices per whorl, each with three usually very coarse and heavy primary spines; that at shoulder sometimes very long and apically directed; those at periphery and base of whorl of approximately equal length and slightly curved. One strong secondary spine between periphery and basal primary spines; much weaker one, often adaperturally directed, between primary spines on periphery and shoulder; another anterior to basal primary spine extremely weak and often lacking. Minute, adaperturally-directed tertiary spinelets only rarely developed on varical face. Body whorl giving appearance of having only three large and one small spine on each varix.
Siphonal canal with five to seven long, closed primary spines, slightly adaperturally-recurved at distal ends; secondary spines lacking.
Suture simple, crossed diagonally by terminations of growth lamellae from succeeding whorl.
Aperture ovate; outer lip crenulated, with size of notches reflecting relative strength of spiral ornamentation, each inter-notch area drawn out into projection, that posterior to basal primary spine longer than others, forming small labral tooth. Notches extending well into aperture as elongate lirations; when outer lip incomplete, notches opening into spines as in M. scolopax group (N.B. this incomplete stage more commonly present than in most species, suggesting a longer period of lip maturation). Anal notch shallow. Inner lip heavy, with posterior end barely appressed, anterior two-thirds free-standing, smooth.
Siphonal canal moderately long to long; terminations of previous canals fused into tube with distal end slightly recurved, open by narrow slit; almost total length spinose. Colour creamy white to light tan, with tips of primary spines sometimes tinged in purple; aperture white.
OPERCULUM. Reddish brown; subcentral nucleus with well-spaced, raised, non-foliose, concentric lamellae.

There are two specimens marked "ternispina Lamarck" in the NHMG, which are from the Lamarck collection. These are both the species named M. nigrispinosus by Reeve. One of these specimens is marked "type" and, as Lamarck referred to only one specimen, this is regarded as the holotype. The second specimen (NHMG, 1099/3) has no type status. The name Murex ternispina has been misinterpreted by most authors and Vokes (1978) has already indicated that M. ternispina and M. nigrispinosus are the same species, but suggested regarding the name M. ternispina as a nomen dubium. The existence of a holotype, however, requires the recognition of the name M. ternispina.
Most of the literature records of M. ternispina refer to other species and, in many cases, probably more than one species. It has not been possible to check all the literature records and, consequently, these are listed in the synonymy with a query, or omitted.
The species most similar in shell characters to M. ternispina areM.falsitribulus andM spicatus. Murex falsitribulus is readily distinguished by the lack of distinct axial sculpture, angulated whorls and a different operculum. The shell of Murex spicatus is similar to that of M. ternispina, especially to some large, pale-coloured, thin shelled specimens from the Solomon Islands. These specimens have reduced axial sculpture and although in most shell characters they resembleM. spicatus, M. ternispinahas a smaller protoconch than that of M. spicatus being about 1.2—1.5 mm in diameter compared with 0.8—1 mm in diameter for M. ternispina. In addition, the shell of M. spicatus has lost the axial ribs and nodules characteristic of M. ternispina, which are found, although reduced, in the large Solomon Island specimens referred to above, and has a channelled suture. Murex pecten has a shell with more numerous spines, including secondary spines on the siphonal canal.

Indo-Pacific