Typical forms of this attractive west American Latirus may be easily recognized by the comparatively smooth, often somewhat flattened whorls, bearing rude, oblique axial plications. The anterior canal is sculptured with about 8 spiral ribs. The earlier whorls bear spiral threads and somct lines the whole shell bears weak or subobsolete spirals. The color is chestnut brown.
The name Turbinella castanea was first proposed by Gray in 1839 for a shell which Melvill later referred to the synonymy of Leucozonia cingulifera Lamarck. The original description indicates that it is quite different from Reeve's shell of the same name. It therefore becomes necessary to propose a new name for Reeve's Turbinella castanea and the name Latirus mediamericanvs is here proposed. It is based on a holotype from Gorgona Island, Colombia. It measures: height, 52.8 mm.; maximum diameter, 18 mm. A paratype came from Pearl Island, Panama Bay. It measures: length (apex incomplete), 58.3 mm.; maximum diameter, 22 mm. Specimens are often covered with calcareous algae.