Adult shell of moderate size (70 to 120 mm), elongate fusiform of solid structure. Surface silky. Spire moderately high with convex whorls. Protoconch with mean diameter of 8-9 mm, slightly flattened and incised by deep suture, bearing at apex sharp calcarella, and sculptured by numerous small radial cords. First embryonic whorl smooth. Protoconch-teleoconch transition very gradual, the radial cords becoming numerous, closeset, fine axial rounded costae onto teleoconch, slightly attenuated toward the anterior part of the body whorl, counted approx. 40 on the antepenultimate whorl. Suture impressed. Teleoconch of 3 to 4, slightly convex whorls with attenuated concave subsutural zone forming indistinct shoulder. Aperture long, narrow, forming approx. 70% of the total length of the shell. Outer lip smooth and simple, solid and thickened. Columella straight with 4-5 thick plaits, the 2 adapical more oblique. Siphonal notch deep. Fasciole present. Background colour cream overlain by dense well defined tent-like reddish pattern, crossed by 2 spiral bands of blotches. Calcarella and embryonic whorl black, subsequent whorl white.

Volutuconus daisyae is the close relative. Shell is larger and more ovate. Protoconch is less flattened. Axial ribs are broader and less numerous, extending onto the last whorl. Its tent-like pattern is less defined and more open. When fresh, coloration is orange-red with orange embryonic whorl and calcarella. Morphologically, small specimens of V. calcarelliformis resemble the eastern V. multiformis but the latter differs by lighter structure, dome-shaped smaller protoconch with white calcarella, finer ribbing onto the elongate last whorl.
At the beginning of its discovery, this species has been identified as a dwarf V. daisyae. Because many of the specimens were brought up dead, the red genuine coloration with black calcarella faded into pale pink and brownish, respectively. Due to its deep habitat, on the outer border of the continental shelf, this species remains very hard to get for a complete study of its specific characters.

TYPE LOCALITY
150-160 m, 239 km NE of Cape Lambert (18°42.8'S; 118°03.2'E), Western Australia.
RANGE
The North West Shelf, Western Australia, from Rowley Shoal to Ashmore Reef, and eastward in the Timor and Arafura Sea.
HABITAT
From 150-200 m, on sand and rubble substrate.