Resembling A. zebra but usually narrower (length:width ratio 1.80-2.30), with a smoother, more glossy surface, although the granules on the early whorls are actually slightly coarser; the apex is more domed than in A. zebra. It seems to lack the finely striped colour forms of A. zebra and instead is either uniform brownish-yellow or has wide reddish- or blackish-brown axial stripes, usually wavy; columella often with a purplish tinge. Maximum length about 100 mm.
Distributed from the East London area north along the Transkei coast to Mbotyi, and inland to Lusiki-siki; locally common and even abundant in coastal forest.
Not always easy to distinguish from A. zebra, unless the protoconchs are compared - in A. zebra the first few apical whorls tend to be less convex and give the protoconch a slightly more conical shape. We follow Prof. Albert Mead (who has confirmed their distinctness by comparison of their reproductive systems) in using the name A. varicosa for this species. It is among the most striking of our agate snails.