Spire moderately long, angle usually 50-60°. Shell width approximately half shell length. Aperture slightly longer than spire. Periphery of body whorl situated approximately half way up shell. Sculptured by numerous fine spiral striae. Whorls slight to moderately depressed below suture; profile of upper whorls slightly convex. Outer lip thin, usually crenulated at margin, aperture sometimes (but not usually) plicate internally. Dark brown parietal scar usually present. Periostracum thin, yellowish-brown to brown. Shell sometimes with a yellowish-brown, sometimes greenish, ground colour, with well-defined dark brown axial flames, often giving a zigzag pattern, other times a spotted appearance - this coloration is most evident in juveniles; shell sometimes uniformly dark brown, other times worn. Aperture usually dark brownish-violet, often with a yellowish to whitish outer edge.

Differs from all other Burnupena species in that the proboscis is coated with a black pigment.
Burnupena catarrhacta can usually be distinguished from B. lagenaria by its more slender shape, longer spire and lack of spiral ridges, and by its black pigmented proboscis. When present, the pattern of axial flames is usually a good identifying character state for B. catarrhacta. However, certain populations of B. lagenaria (especially those on the west coast) can be confused with B. catarrhacta, because they lack spiral ridges and possess an axial pattern. In such cases however, the longer spire of B. catarrhacta usually distinguishes this species. Nevertheless, problems in identification do occur at some localities, for example Kommetjie, where members of the B. lagenaria population tend to have relatively longer spires.
Barnard (1959) commented that 'there are no clear-cut conchological differences between B. catarrhacta and B. limbosa but that 'fresh specimens may be separated by colouration'. The two species can however, usually be distinguished. Large specimens of B. cincta limbosa can be separated by their larger size. Where size cannot be used, B. catarrhacta can usually be distinguished by its more acute spire, the dark colour of the aperture, and by the pattern of axial flames. Since there has been much confusion between B. catarrhacta and B. lagenaria, we suspect that many of the problems experienced by Barnard (1959) in distinguishing between B. catarrhacta and B. limbosa, were rather a matter of distinguishing between B. lagenaria and B. limbosa.
Burnupena catarrhacta can be distinguished from B. rotunda by its totally different shape, being slender and high spired, whilst B. rotunda is typically short and squat.

West coast from Hondeklip southwards, and extending round to the south coast as far as Hermanus. Stephenson's (1948) record from Port Nolloth (north of Hondeklip) requires confirmation as he clearly confused this species with B. lagenaria (see remarks below). Tends to congregate in rock crevices, gullies and shallow pools at the mid- to high-tide level. Seldom abundant.