Shell to 114.0 mm in length, fusiform, protoconch conical, teleoconch of 10-11 weakly convex whorls; post-embryonic whorls with 4-5 elevated spiral cords, cords on later whorls extremely variable, few or numerous, either thin and elevated or broad and flattened; some cords uniform, others duplicated or becoming smaller and intermediate; spiral cords number 16-26 on the body whorl in addition to oblique cords on the siphonal fasciole. Axial sculpture is variable but usually consists of numerous longitudinal threads which are confined to the interspaces in smooth forms, weakly override cords or are prominent and render cords granulose in the coarsely sculptured form. Aperture shorter or longer than the spire, smooth within, columella with a thin callus and from 4-6 strong folds, siphonal notch distinct. White to cream in color, axially streaked with orange or orange-brown, rare specimens spotted at sutures, some individuals orange-brown and with a few white streaks, aperture creamy-white, edge of outer lip sometimes stained with orange-brown. Periostracum brown.

The species is extremely variable in sculpture, and in the form morchii A. Adams, the spiral cords are lower and flatter than in the typical form, although intermediate forms are frequently encountered. In deep water dredgings in the Philippines the morchii form is more frequent whereas in Taiwan and Japan this form is rare.

Range - From the S. coast of China to the Philippines, Japan and Korea.