Shell to 24.0 mm in length, elongate-ovate to cylindrically elongate, spire either depressed or conical and sometimes telescopic, teleoconch of 6-7 weakly convex or roundly subangulate whorls, protoconch of 2.25-2.5 smooth, glassy embryonic whorls; post-embryonic whorl with 3 spiral threads and bisecting axial threads, later whorls with minutely punctate spiral grooves which number 2-3 on the penultimate and 17-25 on the body whorl, siphonal fasciole frequently thickened and with 3-5 cords. Aperture considerably longer than the spire, narrow and smooth within, outer lip thickened and bluntly crenulate, lower half of columella calloused and with 5-6 oblique folds. White to pale grey in color, lower two-thirds of body whorl light to dark brownish-grey, ornamented with oval to trigonal snow-white spots which are frequently bordered by small brown spots, white spots at body whorl suture larger and bordered with oblique dark brown streaks, aperture flesh to brownish-grey; some individuals with a pattern of criss-crossing white lines.

This species is intermediate in shell characters and radular features between Scabricola and Imbricaria with a bias towards the latter group. It is very variable in shape and color pattern.

New Hebrides

Range - From the Red Sea to Japan and the Fiji Islands. Habitat - In sand and coral rubble, intertidal to 10 m.