This is a moderately wide mitrid (W/L of illustrated species is 0.32 to 0.37) with spire equal to or shorter than the aperture (W/L of illustrated species is 0.45 to 0.50). The spire is straight sided with about 7 convex teleoconch whorls. Sculpture consists of 5 convex spiral cords separated by about their diameter. Slightly convex axial riblets are separated by narrow grooves with the width of riblets variable. The outer lip is slightly convex centrally, has nodes formed by external cords and the transition to the anterior canal is well rounded. The dorsal notch is prominent. The aperture is triangular at the posterior, almost constant on the remainder. The columella is straight with about 4 convex, rounded significant plaits. The columellar callus is narrow with a raised outer edge. The fasciole bulges convexly. The shell exterior color is white to cream with prominent brown red streaks on the tops of spiral cords.

Shell to 73.0 mm in length, elongate-ovate and light in weight, teleoconch of 7-8 convex and slightly inflated whorls, protoconch of 3.5 conical, smooth, glassy-white embryonic whorls. Post-embryonic whorls granulose, penultimate whorl with 5-11 main, low spiral cords and body whorl with 16-25 cords, siphonal fasciole with 5-6 additional oblique cords; the interspaces of the main cords have from 2-7 fine, small intermediate spiral threads, and the spiral sculpture is bisected into laterally elongated beads by finely incised, longitudinal grooves; in some rare individuals one cannot differentiate between primary and secondary spiral sculpture. Aperture equal in height or longer than the spire, smooth within, outer lip moderately thickened and crimped, columella with 5-6 strong, oblique folds, siphonal fasciole calloused in adult specimens, base of outer lip frequently longer than siphonal canal. White to cream in color, ornamented with reddish-brown to dark brown, continuous or interrupted spiral lines on the primary spiral cords, body whorl with or without 2 broad, reddish-brown or orange-brown bands, aperture white or cream, upper spire whorls occasionally tinged with lilac.

This species is fairly constant in shell-characters throughout its range with the exception of the sculpture which varies from fine to coarse.

From the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands. In sand and coral-rubble, from the intertidal zone to a depth of 463 m.