Shell typically 9—13 mm long, with 5-6 teleoconch whorls, width to length ratio 0.40-0.45, aperture height about one-half shell length; shell white or off-white, moderately broad, early whorls weakly rounded, changing to strongly rounded in penultimate, final whorl; some with axial sculpture of low, irregular ribs, usually stronger on posterior half of whorl; spiral sculpture, also variably present, of fine incised grooves. Some without sculpture except for spiral grooves at base. Periostracum thin, straw colored. Protoconch smooth, conical to bulbous, white, 1.75-2.25 whorls, no velar sinus but varicose at the protoconch/ teleoconch transition.

This species is variable in profile but has a broader body whorl than other species, and tends to be solid whereas some other regional congeners are thin-shelled and slightly translucent. The holotype is an unusually large, broad specimen with a small aperture, but it falls within the variation of the species. It is similar to A. rosacea although larger.

Aleutian Islands to Kachemak Bay, Alaska, intertidal to over 40 m. Common in Aleutian Islands, uncommon in Gulf of Alaska.