Shell of medium size for the subgenus, whorls 5 (excluding nucleus), suture moderately impressed; midway on the whorl there is an angulation, but the base is rounded; base slightly convex, broadly umbilicate, columella with 3 denticles at base, aperture oblique, circular within. On the penultimate whorl the shoulder area below the preceding suture is flat and bears 4 major spiral cords of irregular strength and spacing; the peripheral cord is thick and projecting, between it and the suture below are 4 irregular major cords, with irregular fine spiral striae throughout. Base with about 11 spiral cords of irregular strength and spacing; the cords are rounded and have narrower interspaces; directly in advance of the aperture the basal cords are worn smooth. Ground color yellowish-green with axial markings of brown that tend to run parallel to the advancing lip. Base of columella and callus tongue bright green. Height, 15.4, diameter, 17.2 mm.

Tegula felipensis has generally been identified as T. mariana Dall, 1919, but differs from that species in having stronger spiral cording and a dull, rather than shiny surface. The basal cords of T. mariana are low, narrow, and broadly spaced, while those of T. felipensis are coarse and rounded, with narrower interspaces. Large specimens of T. mariana may show a concavity in the subsutural area and coarse nodulations onthe peripheral cord, features not shown in T. felipensis. San Felipe is the center of abundance of this species; it is rare at Punta Peftasco to the west and at Puertecitos [Puertocitos] to the south. Tegula mariana is unknown from San Felipe but is abundant both at Punta Pefiasco and Puertocitos. At San Felipe the substrate is fine silt or clay and the water is seldom clear, giving rise to peculiar ecological conditions and no doubt favoring the localized distribution of some species, while excluding others.

Type Locality: Punta San Felipe, Baja California del Norte, 31° 02' N, 114° 49' W, among small rocks, low tide. The type lot, consisting of 19 mature and 14 juvenile specimens, was collected by James H. McLean, April, 1961, and December, 1962.
Type Material: Holotype, LACM 1383; 16 paratypes, LACM 1384. One mature and one juvenile paratype each, AMNH, ANSP, CAS, MCZ, SBM, SDNHM, SU and USNM.
Referred Material: Abundant material of this species is represented in collections from San Felipe. It is uncommon at Puertecitos [Puertocitos], Baja California (SBM 06939); and at Punta Peftasco, Sonora (SBM 15905).