Shell up to 32.0 mm in length, fusiform-elongate, rather solid, teleoconch of 9 flat-sided or only slightly convex whorls, protoconch missing in all specimens examined. Post-embryonic whorls finely nodulose, nodulose sculpture usually persisting to the penultimate whorl and the posterior region of the body whorl; some individuals with a distinctly granulose body whorl, penultimate whorl with 4-6 spiral rows of faintly regular nodules, nodules on body whorl either confined to 4-6 rows anterior to the suture and followed by wide-spaced, punctate spiral grooves or the complete body whorl has axially elongated nodules, siphonal fasciole with 7-12 oblique spiral cords. Aperture narrow, equal in height to or longer than the spire, smooth within, outer lip moderately thickened and scalloped, columella with 3-4 strong folds. Brown in color, sutures broadly banded with white, brown zones with a few small, nebulous and slightly wedge-shaped white spots; some individuals, however, lack these white spots.

The species bears a superficial resemblance to some specimens of Scabricola (Swainsonia) ocellata (Swainson), but their radular anatomy is distinctly different.

Range - Kermadec Islands. Subtidal, from 82-165 m.