Shell elongate-conic, white, with two bands of golden brown on each whorl. The first of these bands extends over the posterior row of tubercles, while the second covers the peripheral cord. Nuclear whorls two and one-half, well rounded, smooth. Post-nuclear whorls well rounded, marked from the very beginning with three strong spiral cords, which are about as wide as the spaces that separate them. The first of these cords, which is at the summit, is a trifle weaker than the rest; the third is at some little distance above the suture, while the second is half way between the two. In addition to these cords, the whorls are marked by well-developed vertical axial ribs, which are about as strong as the spiral cords. Of these ribs, 18 occur upon the first and second, 20 upon the third, 22 upon the remaining whorls. The junctions of the axial ribs and the spiral cords form well developed tubercles, while the spaces inclosed between them are well impressed, squarish pits. The tubercles are well rounded on the first and second cords, while those on the third are truncated posteriorly, sloping gently anteriorly. Sutures strongly impressed, showing a portion of the peripheral cord on the last three whorls. Periphery of the last whorl marked by a strong spiral cord, which is separated from the suprasutural cord by a space almost double the width of that which separates the suprasutural from the median cord. The axial ribs extend to the posterior edge of the suprasutural cord, but do not cross it. Base moderately long, somewhat concave, marked by a low tumid area at the insertion of the columella, which somewhat suggests a very broad, low, weakly rounded cord. The entire surface of the base is marked with exceedingly fine spiral striations and incremental lines. Aperture very large, irregular, oval, decidedly effuse at the junction of the outer and basal lip, very strongly channeled anteriorly and slightly so at the posterior angle. Outer lip thin, showing the external sculpture within; inner lip strongly curved, reflected over the base; parietal wall glazed with a moderately thick callus which renders the peritreme complete.
The unique type comes from Bermuda, and has seven post-nuclear whorls measuring: Length 2.9 mm., diameter 1 mm. It is in the collection of the Bermuda Museum.

See Dall & Bartsch (1911) and Redfern (2001).
Protoconch white, smooth, consisting of 2 1/2 whorls. Teleoconch with brown upper nodular cord, rest cream or yellowish (almost white in eroded specimens). Three cords at the beginning of the first whorl. Redfern (2001, fig. 302C) described and figured the soft parts.

This species can be distinguished from other similar species (like C. lata) by its short protoconch. Other species with short protoconch, like C. pesa, have two colour bands and one white band.

The species has been recorded from Bermuda (type locality), Bahamas (Redfern, 2001)and Cuba.