SHELL. Large (up to 95 mm in length), with six shouldered teleoconch whorls. Protoconch of about two and one-half angulate volutions with top flattened and tip submerged, ending at small crescentic varix.
Spiral ornamentation on first two teleoconch whorls visible only as sharp angle at shoulder; on subsequent whorls only faint, minor threads barely visible even on body whorl.
Axial ornamentation on first two teleoconch whorls of nine angulate ribs, each with sharp open spine at shoulder. On third whorl, every third rib strengthened, forming varix bearing stout, closed, apically curved spine; intervening two axial ribs strongly nodose at shoulder. By fifth and subsequent whorls, weaker third axial ridge developed in adapertural portion of intervarical area; on bodv whorl these appearing only as nodules, one at shoulder and weaker one at periphery. Three low varices per whorl, each with three short, stout closed spines, sharply recurved apically, one each at shoulder, periphery, and base of body whorl. Alternating with primary spines are smaller, short secondary spines, curving slightly adaperturally. Siphonal canal with five relatively short, straight primary spines, slightly recurved adaperturally. Short, slender secondary spines alternate with primary spines, directed adaperturally at right angles to major ones. Suture simple, slightly appressed.
Aperture elongate-ovate; no true outer lip, apertural edge of varix scalloped into grooves of major spines, giving rise to a series of tooth-like projections. Projection posterior to major spine at base of body whorl, elongated into large labral tooth. Weak anal notch formed by projection of subsutural ramp and appressed posterior portion of inner lip; this structure visible in advance of preceeding varices. Anterior two-thirds of inner lip freestanding, narrow, smooth.
Siphonal canal long, terminations of previous canal fused into tube, open by narrow slit; spinose three-quarters of length. Colour creamy white; aperture white, brown interior; some specimens with darker brown spiral lines inside aperture, corresponding to major spiral cords. Operculum yellowish brown; subterminal nucleus located on side adjacent to outer lip, with about nine concentric ridges; strongly creased at mid-line along length.

The shell of this species is readily differentiated from that of M. scolopax, with which it is closely allied, by its smaller size, more strongly angled whorls, shorter, hooked spines and uniform colouration.

Species being confined to south-eastern Asia and Indonesia.