Shell rather thick. Spiral sculpture with a characteristic pattern consisting of narrow grooves delimiting very low broad cords. The cords are even wider and weaker between the canal and the periphery, whereas the area below the subsutural depression is smooth in some shells. The development of the axial ribbing on the subsutural fold is variable and sometimes obsolete on the body whorl. The apical whorls are eroded in all specimens examined. On the earliest remaining apical whorls there is a suprasutural row of tubercles, which gradually becomes covered by succeeding whorls, and gradually fades out on last 2.5-3 whorls. Dead shells exhibit a specific pattern of erosion which primarily affects the subsutural spiral depression. Unlike other representatives of the genus, the shell is covered by a greenish periostracum, usually with a darker band just below the subsutural spiral depression. Maximum dimensions: 38.8 x 19.6 mm.

It closely resembles the holotype of Pionotoma pyrum as illustrated by Kuroda (1952). Regrettably, Kuroda's material is not available for examination on loan, so that our interpretation of the name relies entirely on the key and rather poor original illustration.

Pliocene and Pleistocene of Timor and Nias Islands. Recent: southern Japan, in .200 m; Philippines, Makassar Strait and Tanimbar Islands (Indonesia), alive in 715-800 m, shells in 476-1244 m.