Shell solid; spire rather elongated; whorls about five; base of the aperture moderately expanded; columella plicate throughout or nearly so, with a slightly thickened wide ridge at or near its base. Color generally ashy or whitish, overlaid with a slate-colored or purplish pattern. This pattern may be indistinct reticulations or zigzags or irregular dots and blotches, and it often shows the white ground in triangular patches. There is almost always a row of dark lines or spots below the suture; there are often faint bands on the body whorl, and sometimes dark markings on the base.
Length, 18 mm; diameter, 8 mm.