Shell of small size (diameter < 10 mm) (H/D = 0.9-1.0), trochoid-turbiniform, with 6 convex whorls, separated by a deep, wide, and grooved suture. Protoconch of a little more than half a whorl, yellowish-white with a maximum diameter of about 210 mu. First whorl of the teleoconch with 2-3 smooth spiral cords; in the subsequent ones, the cords are nodulose; the penultimate has 6 cords and 7 on the last whorl, which are distributed between the suture and the periphery; the nodules are rounded or rectangular, and differ in size from one cord to the next; the subsutural cord and the outermost one have wider nodules; spaces between cords with 4-6 fine spiral threads. Base with 6 spiral cords separated by wide spaces; the cords closer to the periphery have smaller and slightly depressed nodules, which change to a smooth surface closer to the umbilicus. The latter is narrow and deep, with its margin feebly crenulated with 4-6 blunt denticles. Very fine close oblique growth striae cover the entire surface of the shell, even the nodules. Aperture rounded, border prosocline. Inner lip with some folds on its border; outer lip sharp edged, without denticles, and internal spiral ridges barely perceptible; anal tooth absent. Very fine parietal callus, without wrinkles or teeth. Columella with two folds on its upper part, the outermost forming a small denticle; base with a simple denticle, wide but barely prominent. General color variable, dark brown, brown, or coral red, with axial blotches of light color (white, cream, etc.) which radiate from the suture.
Dimensions: Usually between 8 and 12 mm.
Operculum corneous, multispiral, with about 12 whorls and a small central nucleus.

Animal with a yellowish-cream ground color, the head has rounded cephalic tentacles, which are of moderate length and dark brown with a darker longitudinal medial band; black eyes on short peduncles; wide cephalic lappets, with their border nearly smooth, not serrated, irregularly spotted with dark brown; oral disc rounded and laterally widened; neck lobes wide, with sharp margin and small white and yellow blotches extended on its inner part; other irregular dark brown blotches on its surface, each one with a strong white papilla. Epipodium cream colored with dark brown blotches, surface covered with very small rounded nodules and numerous white papillae, of irregular shape, which are concentrated near the epipodial tentacles; on each side there is a large tentacle near the cervical lobe; 3 smaller ones are on the left side and 4 on the right, all them very closely spaced, and placed around the opercular lobe. The sole is rough with a longitudinal split in the middle.
Radula of formula n.5.1.5.n, formed of numerous rows of teeth uniformly curved towards the outside. The rachidian tooth is triangular and is expanded basally; its cusp is blunt and rounded anteriorly and has 3-5 sharply pointed denticles on each side at its base. Lateral teeth similar in shape to the rachidian but a little more developed, having the internal margin finely serrated, but this character is difficult to observe because of the superposition of the other teeth; 5th lateral is stronger, more elongate and has a strong denticle at its outer side, in the base of the cusp. The marginal reeth are hookshaped, narrow, and elongate, and have a larger denticle on the outer side, near the beginning of the cusp, which is also narrow and elongate, with a strong longitudinal rib on its middle and small denticles on each side; since the marginal teeth are closer to the outer margin, the cusp is shorter and the lateral denticles are smaller.

Shell solid, globose, whorls convex, suture broad, caniculated. Sculpture made by granulous spiral cords (13-14 on last whorl) intervalled by interspaces with very fine striae oblique. These cords are present at the base too but they are more spaced and less granulous. In the internal part of external lip there are numerous little teeth smaller in sizes and in a larger number than in C. corallinus. Columella oblique overhanging a wide flare, umbilicus narrow and deep. On columella there are two teeth: one of them in the upper part and the other one near the base, both of them small and sharp, different from C. corallinus ones. As far as C. corallinus is concerned, other differences are represented by a granulosity less evident and by a larger space among cords. Generally brown in colour with little spots white in colour near suture and in periumbilical zone. There are several varieties in colour quoted by Monterosato among which we remind: monochroa, alba, Candida, rosea, coccinea.
Recently it was described C. laurae Cecalupo A., Buzzurro G. & Mariani M, 2008, endemic species of Kerkennah Is. (Tunisian Archipelago), almost exclusively recognizable from cruciatus since quite white in colour. Average measures of adult specimens are around 9-10 mm in diametre.

This species is very variable in color, having had many varieties described for it: nigrescens, brunnea, rosea, candida, etc. The white or cream blotches disposed radially on the periphery of the whorls is a pattern frequently found in other species of the West African coast, and this has caused many erroneous records, giving the impression that the species had a wide geographic distribution.

Habitat: it lives on stiff substrata in the infralittoral and circalittoral zones.
Distribution: it is collected all over the Mediterranean. Rather common, more frequent in the southern sector.