Shell large, 75 to 85 mm. (3 to 3,5 inches) in height, fusiform, with tall spire (32-33°) and a long slightly twisted and recurved anterior canal. Spire height equal to that of the aperture plus canal. Adult whorls 11-12, exclusive of the protoconch which is missing in all the material examined. Axial sculpture is confined to the early post-embryonic whorls and is in the form of subobsolete subsutural and oblique peripheral nodules. The surface is smooth and polished, except for overall dense microscopic spiral striae and strongly incised, closely spaced spiral grooves, which are confined to the lower part of the base, neck and anterior fasciole. The spire is turretted by a deeply concave shoulder between a broad but weak subsutural fold and the lower extremity of the shoulder, which is just above middle whorl height and is slightly less than the maximum diameter of the whorls. Sinus occupying most of the shoulder sigmoid, suddenly and deeply cut in at the sutural sub-margin, narrowly rounded at its apex, then produced forward and downwards in a wide protractive arc. Colour usually plain ivory-white but some examples have an overlaid pattern in light reddish-brown. The pattern has resolved from coalescent retractive axial flames. Operculum clavatulid, ovate but angulate top and bottom, with the nucleus just below centre within the inner margin.

This large attractive shell, uncom¬mon in collections, is easily recognised by its fusiform shape, rounded whorls, and smooth surface, except for weak spiral lirations on the lower half of the base. The colouration is either plain ivory-white or with the addition of light reddish brown axial flames and maculations. Dillwyn's Murex tornatus probably has priority over Schumacher's Turricula flammea. Both are in publications that appeared in 1817, but Dillwyn's work is dated January 1st and Schu¬macher's March 1st.

Range —India to Thailand.