This species is not often seen in the literature or in the field. The shell is whitish to orange or pink externally, 8 to 13 mm long in adults with 5 to 6 teleoconch whorls, some with yellow colouring deep in the aperture; the aperture edge is white. The periostracum is typically in regularly spaced tufts over the body whorl. Some specimens have spiral rows of minute white or brown flecks on the body whorl. The columellar plaits in this species are weaker than in other species and rather sharp; one may be weaker than the other. The anterior canal is usually narrowed and extended slightly laterally to a pronounced point, which in extreme specimens can make the body whorl appear crooked relative to the spire whorls. The protoconch is white or more often lilac purple, and consists of 2.75 to 3.25 (rarely 3.5) smooth whorls. Early whorls are nodulose at the periphery. The variety anceps was named by Hervier (1899); though this was not illustrated and I have not seen it, Hervier mentions that the shell in the variety has a purple tinge to the aperture and columellar edge; that being the case, this is more likely to be conspecific with Euplica turturina Lamarck, or it may be a different species altogether.

A very wide shell with width almost the same as length of the aperture. Spire is shorter than aperture and is straight sided. In ventral view the body whorl is very convex from the suture to the fasciole bulge. The outer lip is straight below the shoulder and has a sharp edge thickening rapidly toward the interior with thickness convex in ventral view bearing about 8 low denticles that become weaker at the anterior and posterior of the callus. In side view the lip slopes about 30 degrees from axial and appears to be a very wide varix. The color is white or cream with brown irregular streaks, blotches or spots. The aperture is stained yellow, protoconch lilac.