Shell up to 35.0 mm in length, fusiform-elongate and angulate in center of whorls, teleoconch of 7-8 whorls, protoconch of 3 smooth, conical embryonic whorls. Post-embryonic whorls clathrate through bisecting axial and spiral cords, interspaces pitted, penultimate whorl with 3-4 cords with the central cord forming a carina, body whorl with 3-4 cords at the shoulder, remaining body whorl smooth except for the base which is grooved and corded; axial striae are usually present next to the cords but in some individuals these are almost obsolete. Aperture equal in height or longer than the spire, smooth within, outer lip thickened and simple, columella only narrowly calloused and with 45 folds, siphonal notch distinct. Brown to fawn in color, sutures frequently white or pale yellow, some individuals with narrow white axial streaks, aperture fawn or brown. Periostracum brown, thin and opaque.

Range - From the Cape Verde Islands to Senegal and Angola, W. Africa.

This species is the survivor of the European Tertiary Z. goniophora Bellardi, and conchologically both species are rather similar.