Diagnosis: Shell small to large (over 150 mm), oval to broadly fusiform, without siphonal canal and with siphonal notch. Protoconch paucispiral. Whorls convex to (sub)cylindrical, shouldered, sometimes with strong keel at shoulder. Shell sculpture pronounced in most cases, spiral sculpture from microscopic threads to prominent keels; axial sculpture, when present, of distinct, broad, sigmoid or arcuated axial ribs. Shell covered with ciliated periostracum, sometimes thick and forming lamellae. Aperture wide, ovate with simple outer lip. Operculum small to large, with subcentral nucleus. Radula with central tooth with broad rectangular base, notched anteriorly, and with nearly straight posterior margin with three to eight cusps; lateral teeth with three to four cusps, intermediate one much shorter than outer and inner ones (after Kantor et al. 2022).

Key to the genera of N Atlantic Buccinidae
A. Operculum with central or subcentral nucleus Buccinum
A. Operculum without central or subcentral nucleus B
B. Operculum, at least in very young specimens, paucispiral Mohnia
B. Operculum not paucispiral in young specimens C
C. Whorls distinctly shouldered with angular axial ribs Kryptos
C. Whorls rounded D
D. Central teeth of the radula without cusps E
D. Central teeth of the radula with cusps F
E. Shell short, ovate, almost smooth Liomesus
E. Shell tall, fusiform, with distinct spiral sculpture Beringius
F. Lateral teeth with 5-10 cusps of equal size Troschelia
F. Lateral teeth with 2-5 cusps of distinctly unequal size G
G. Aperture very large, siphonal canal short, broad and open,
only 2 large cusps on the lateral teeth Volutopsius
G. Aperture constricted at the siphonal canal which is distinctly
set off H
H. Periostracum hardly visible Neptunea
H. Periostracum usually well developed, always easily visible
in specimens taken alive I
I. Larval operculum pointed, periostracum with rows of bristles
along the spiral ridges Turrisipho
I. Larval operculum oval, periostracum smooth or with bristles along the
incremental lines Colus