Shell moderately large for the species and the subgenus, with short spire, long, slightly recurved anterior canal, and short, inflated last whorl. Three varices present, low and narrow, the last separated by a distinct groove from the terminal outer lip reflected edge. Spiral sculpture of narrow, prominent, rounded cords, 3 on spire whorls and 6 major ones on sides of last whorl, with interspaces bearing 3 or 4 narrow threads, and with numerous narrow cords on sutural ramp and canal. Collabral sculpture of low, narrowly crested, widely spaced folds, weak over the sutural ramp, raised into prominent, rounded, antero-posteriorly compressed nodules where crossed by the spiral cord at the shoulder angulation, and fading out rapidly below the shoulder; 6 on the last and 9 on the penultimate intervariceal spaces (but there are fewer on other, more coarsely sculptured individuals). Whole teleoconch surface crossed by low, narrow, regular, collabral growth ridges. Aperture polished, bright intense brownish orange (including lining of anterior canal); interior of outer lip bear¬ing 7 prominent, rounded ridges that pass well into the aperture. Inner lip spread widely as a thick collar, adhering to the previous whorl over the parietal area but standing free over the neck of the previous whorl, smooth except for 3 low spiral ridges on the upper parietal area and 4 low, short, indistinct ridges on the base of the columella. External surface pale pinkish cream, with faint pale brown streaks behind each collabral fold on the sutural ramp, and pale brown areas on some spiral cords on the last 2 varices.
Dimensions, 69.4 x 36.2 mm (neotype); 87.2 x 40.4 mm (largest shell seen, WM13141); 86.4 x 42.1 mm (WM13141).

Cymatium (Gutturnium) gutturnium (Röding, 1798). Length, 60 mm; diameter, 41 mm. Shell: spire about one-third the length of the aperture and siphonal canal; with coarse, nodular axial ribs and spiral cords; white. Spire: low, compressed; suture depressed. Sculpture: coarse, nodular axial ribs crossed by rough spiral cords. Aperture: large, ovate; outer lip with coarse denticles; apical edge of peristome flat; parietal peristome raised; columella plicate. Color: white with axial brown streaks; aperture pale pink to brilliant orange-red.

Almost all specimens have an intense, dark orange aperture, but a few have a pale flesh-pink or yellow aperture. Most specimens identified as C gutturnium that have a pale aperture are actually the new species C springsteeni. The exterior is generally pale in colour, except for the red-brown collabral streaks behind the collabral folds. This species lacks the prominent, brown spiral cords on the canal that are consistently present in C springsteeni, and also differs from C. springsteeni in its larger size, its paler external colour, and (in many specimens) its coarser peripheral nodules.