(Holotype) Shell buccinoid, consisting of 7.5 weakly convex teleoconch whorls, with very high spire comprising 29% of shell height, suture distinctly impressed. Protoconch dissolved. Teleoconch whorls angulate at periphery, with very broad subsutural ramp, very concave on apical whorls, less so on adult whorls as subsutural fold becomes less distinct. Incremental lines irregular, some forming raised, oblique axial riblets on subsutural fold of apical whorls. Axial sculpture consisting of strong, narrow axial ribs, tuberculate at summit of whorl angulation, extending from edge of subsutural ramp to abapical suture on spire whorls, to periphery on last whorl; 14 ribs on penultimate whorl, 19 on last whorl, rapidly fading out below periphery. Spiral sculpture below whorl angulation consisting of broad, very low cords separated by even interspaces, rarely with thin additional cord in interspace. Spiral sculpture on subsutural ramp consisting of narrow, indistinct cords, very weak adapically and not continuously discernible. Aperture elongate-oval, outer lip evenly convex. Inner lip covered by wide, rather thin callus, parietal area forming an obtuse angle with columella. Siphonal canal short, notched, obliquely truncated, with distinct but not very prominent fasciole. Anal sinus, based on incremental lines, only a weak insinuation, deepest point situated in middle of subsutural ramp or just below it. Colour white. Dimensions: height 18.5 mm, diameter 8.5 mm, last whorl height 13.1 mm, aperture height 10.3 mm.

Material from Indonesia reaches up to 30.3 x 13.2 mm in size. Spire height 29-33% of shell height, diameter/height ratio 42-51%. Variation in teleoconch sculpture concerns development of spiral cords, which may be somewhat narrower than in holotype, with correspondingly broader interspaces; subsutural ramp in some specimens completely devoid of spiral sculpture; axial ribs often obsolete on last half of last whorl. Radular teeth rather large, 290 µm long in a 25.6 mm high specimen, with short, straight and barbed blade, and large basal spur. Buccinaria pendula shares with B. urania a very high spire and strong axial sculpture. It differs from B. urania, with which it is partly sympatric (but never syntopic), in having a more regular spiral sculpture consisting of even, low and wide spiral cords, and in the spiral sculpture being obsolete on the subsutural ramp.

Type locality: Philippines, SW of Luzon
Distribution: Madagascar, the Philippines and Indonesia, alive in 368-840 m.