Cantharidus pulcherrimus: Shell acutely conical, thick, solid. Whorls almost flat, ornamented with broad, concentric ribs, of which there are five on the penultimate whorl. Colour purplish crimson, with narrow, white marks crossing the ribs. Aperture ovate, interior iridescent, lip edges with rich crimson, more evident on the columella. Size: 0,75 inch.

Cantharidus pulcherrimus: Crimson Lip Weed Shell. Shell imperforate, acutely conical, elongated, thick; spire straight sided and conical, apex subacute, sutures linear; purplish crimson spiral ribs articulated with white; whorls six, almost flat, penultimate with four or five broad flat spiral ribs, sometimes unequal in width, separated by narrow impressed grooves, body whorl subangulate at the periphery, with four or five broad flat low ribs above, and more numerous narrower ones on the base; aperture small, less than half the length of the shell, oblique, oval, brilliantly iridescent, ridged within; peristome edged with intense crimson, bordered with greenish inside; columella vertical, slightly arcuate, straight in the middle; parietal wall covered with a light callus. Diameter 9 mm., height. 14 mm.

Cantharidus pulcherrimus: The specific name is appropriate, for it is indeed a beautiful shell with rich colouring and encircling sculpture. Allied to and associated with ramburi (Crosse), it is rather common in rock-pools and washed up on beaches. Dead shells become very worn and lose much of their charm; living specimens may be obtained on seaweeds. From ramburi, it is distinguished by its more rounded whorls and stronger sculpture.

Cantharidus pulcherrimus: Recorded from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.