Shell elongate-fusiform, 7.5-10.9 mm, with length: width ratio usually >3 (range 2.8-3.3), and aperture length usually slightly more than half shell length (range 49-56%). Protoconch 0.37-0.40 mm wide at base; complete protoconch not seen. Teleoconch 5.8-7.5 whorls; spire slightly convex, suture indistinct among spiral cords. First postnuclear whorl with 12-16 axial ribs and 3 spiral cords, pustulate at rib-cord intersections. Spiral cords increase gradually to 5 or rarely 6 on penultimate whorl. Axial ribs increase to 18-26 on penultimate whorl and 21-27 on body whorl; body whorl may have more or fewer ribs than penultimate. Pustules at intersections of ribs and cords wider than either rib or cord, increase in strength to body whorl, but weaker anteriorly, becoming obsolete on cords along columellar edge. Body whorl with 16-20 cords; intercordal spaces about as wide as cords. Subsutural cord larger and slightly separated from other cords. Microsculpture of axial riblets spacing 5-6 mu on spiral cords and 10-12 in intercordal spaces, obsolete or absent on pustules. Columella with 5-6 folds, occasionally only 4. Aperture narrow, further constricted by denticles on outer lip and columellar folds. Outer margin of outer lip undulated by spiral cords. Inner margin of outer lip with 12-16 denticles, often paired, but first and last denticles usually single; no lirations within aperture. Posterior sinus rounded, siphonal notch open and canal slightly recurved.
Shell ground color rosy pink including aperture. Sub-sutural cord matches ground color and is particularly bright in fresh-collected specimens. Other cords have two different color patterns: either mostly ground color but with some pustules lighter pink or white, or with orange pustules alternating with pink or white pustules. Orange often extends beyond pustules onto adjacent cord and occasionally into the intercordal spaces; sometimes two pustules adjacent on cord have same color. First two spire whorls darker rosy pink, orange on cords starts on second or third whorl. Designating cords with orange "o" and other cords "p", pattern "p-o-p-o-o-p-p-o-o-o-o-o..." occurs most frequently (suture to anterior), but many other patterns occur. Most cords anterior to largest columellar fold contain orange. Cords occasionally change from "p" to "o" or vice versa along their length
Live animal with head and foot tissue translucent off-white. Foot simple, narrow, squared off posteriorly. Eyes black, foot with small round or oval yellow spots outlining entire periphery. Tentacles and siphon with scattered yellow spots.

Thala mirifica is more finely pustulose than T. abelai, with >20 spiral cords on the body whorl versus 16-20, the intercordal spaces are not as wide as the cords and none of its spiral cords have alternate pustules of orange. The outer lip in T abelai is more sinuous than in T. mirifica and more strongly inflected, particularly below the posterior sinus so that it more nearly parallels the shell axis.
Thala abelai differs from T exilis in having a narrower aperture, more slender spiral cords anterior to the first columellar tooth and microsculpture consisting of regular axial riblets; such riblets are absent in T exilis Rosenberg & Salisbury (2007)
Thala abelai differs from T exquisita Garrett, 1872 in having a wider shell, stronger pustules, and fewer spiral cords.
Thala abelai differs from T roseata in being more slender, having more strongly pustulose sculpture and in lacking brown spots in the intercostal spaces on the spiral cords at the periphery.

Type locality: Orote Cliffs, Orote Point, Guam, Mariana Islands.
Distribution: Marianas Islands; Marshall Islands; Vanuatu; Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia; Niue; Line Islands.