Protoconch of about 1,5 smooth whorls. Colour pattern of teleoconch variable, but the white and brown subsutural band that continues onto the body whorl is constant; aperture purple-tinted in adult specimens. Adult length varies from 8,2 to 14,2 mm. Empty shells found at depths ranging from 12 to 310 m.

This species is probably one of the most often confused of the Indo-Pacific columbellids. It is typically placed in Mitrella, however Okutani (2000) most recently placed it in Indomitrella, probably because of the axial sculpture on the early spire whorls. Because it is most often confused with Indomitrella puella, it seems reasonable to keep them both in the same generic group. Cernohorsky (1972) and Higo et al. (1990) treat this species as a synonym of Indomitrella puella (Sowerby, 1844). Drivas & Jay (1990, 1997a, 1997b) have reported finding this species at various locations in the western Indian Ocean, however their figures show shells that lack axial sculpture on the spire whorls and also lack parietal denticles; so it seems likely that their specimens are misidentified. There is very possibly a cluster of similar species which are at this point poorly differentiated in the literature. The shell is heavy, porcelainous and white, with brown markings, often arranged around a white spiral band at the middle of the body whorl. There are nodulose axial ribs on the first one or two spire whorls, and often on the back of the body whorl. The whorls are weakly shouldered. The aperture has both labial and often obscure parietal denticles, which are generally stained pink or lilac. Adults are 9 to 12 mm long with 5 to 7 teleoconch whorls; the protoconch is smooth, white, with 3.5 whorls.

Providence Reef, Mascarenes, 24 fins.; and He des Neufs, Amirantes, in 15 fins.
Reeve's figure is fairly good in respect of form but misleading as regards the colour of this species. It is a whitish or pinkish-white shell, having the upper and lower parts of the whorls edged with opaque white, and a narrow zone of the same colour round the middle of the body-whorl. It is also blotched with olive-yellow and dotted with that tint upon the opaque bands. The labrum and columella are tinged with lilac-pink, the former being armed with seven or eight denticles and the latter with about six transverse tubercles upon a prominent callosity.

Philippines and New Caledonia to Reunion and Mauritius.