Shell very large (up to 120 mm in length), with eight teleoconch whorls.Protoconch of about three polished conical volutions, with strong keel on last near anterior suture, terminating at sharp crescentic varix. Spiral ornamentation absent on first two teleoconch whorls; on third whorl about five extremely weak spiral threads (shoulder and peripheral ones slightly stronger), increasing by intercalation until body whorl and siphonal canal marked by pattern of three orders of primary, secondary, and tertiary flattened cords. Axial ornamentation on first teleoconch whorl of six or seven ribs, flattened on subsutural ramp and drawn out into strong, looped lamellae, extending from shoulder almost to anterior suture. Axial lamellae elongated into spines on second teleoconch whorl; by third whorl spines on two of every three ribs shrinking into intervarical ridges, others strengthening into varices, each with long closed curved spine at shoulder. Intervarical ridges gradually reduced on subsequent whorls until by sixth and later whorls intervarical area not ribbed but crossed with numerous, strong growth lines that give a malleated appearance to shell surface. Three rounded varices per whorl; where crossed by primary spiral cords, three moderately long, slightly apically curved spines on each. Primary spines alternating with three shorter secondary spines, recurved somewhat adaperturally. Very short, sharp tertiary spinelets directed adaperturally, at right angles to other spines, alternate with primary and secondary spines. Number of tertiary spinelets variable. Completely developed spination pattern with (anteriorly from suture) tertiary, primary (shoulder), tertiary, secondary, tertiary, primary (periphery), tertiary, secondary, tertiary, primary (base), secondary, tertiary, tertiary. Siphonal canal with six or seven long primary spines, adaperturally curved near distal ends. Of these, second from base of body whorl longest, others rapidly tapering in length anteriorly so anterior-most one shortest. Several small spinelets alternate with primary spines, those nearest base parallel to adjacent primary spines, but progressively directed adaperturally until anterior-most spinelet at an angle of 90° to primary spines. Suture simple, crossed diagonally by growth lamellae. Aperture ovate; margin of outer lip notched by extension of median groove in spines, notches varying in size according to strength of spine; one inter-notch area on anterior third of lip projecting as large labral tooth. Long, grooved lirations extend into aperture from base of notches. Small anal notch formed between appressed posterior portion of inner lip and extension of shoulder ramp. Flare of inner lip reaching only to level of suture and not visible in advance of varices on previous whorls; anterior three-quarters of inner lip free-standing, smooth. Siphonal canal long: terminations of previous canals fused into tube, open by narrow slit; spinose on posterior two-thirds of length. Colour yellow brown, with a bluish to purplish tinge in interspaces between spirals; spirals and axial growth ridges lighter in colour, giving a maculated appearance; interior of shell brown, with darker brown lines between lirations, terminating in dark spots in notches of outer lip.

West Indopacific