Shell large, maximum height 88 mm (SC), Salango Island, Ecuador), relatively slender (diameter / shell height, mean 0.535 — 0.022, n — 22, range 0.51—0.60) and high-spired (aperture height / total shell height, mean 0.56 ± 0.041, range 0.49—0.64); spiral sculpture of last whorl consisting of about ten threads on strongly concave subsutural ramp, four prominent primary cords (including upper shoulder angulation and central cord) on central sector, and two (rarely three) prominent cords on base and siphonal canal; axial sculpture consisting of eight to 12 prominent rounded ribs, which form distinct nodes or tubercles on the upper two to four cords on the central sector; labral tooth absent; outer lip with distinct subsutural sinus and a nearly planar central and abapical sector; adaxial side of outer lip with 11 deeply recessed, beaded lirae; base weakly and gently constricted; aperture relatively broad, its height / breadth ratio 2.4-25; siphonal ca¬nal long (canal height / aperture height, mean 0.45 — 0.07, range 0.36—0.58); columella with three strong basal folds and three weaker ones adapical to these; siphonal fasciole distinct; umbilical slit absent; external color yellow-brown, with lighter (sometimes white) nodes; periostracum darker brown; aperture white. Hutsell et al. (2001:52) report a 90.1 mm specimen from west Mexico; we have been unable to verify this record.

At a height of 88 mm, L. cerata is the largest known species of Leucozonia. As is usual in species of Leucozonia, however, there is considerable variation in maximum size from place to place. The largest shell we have seen comes from Salango, Ecuador. By contrast, specimens from Costa Rica and the Gulf of Chiriqui (VC) do not generally exceed a height of 40 mm. L. cerata is a distinctive, strongly sculptured, high-spired species that varies little in shell characters. It is characterized by four strong cords on the central sector of the last whorl, the uppermost two of which are set very close together at the shoulder angulation. There are two or three additional strong cords on the base and siphonal canal. The outer lip lacks a labral tooth at the end of the central cord, and has a distinct subsutural sinus and planar abapical sector. The species differs from the sympatric L. rudis by having more nodose axial ribs, by lacking a subsutural cord, and by having a planar rather than a strongly convex central sector of the outer lip. L. cerata differs from the western Atlantic L. ocellata by attaining a much larger adult size, and by usually having a higher spire, much weaker lirae, and stronger principal spiral cords.

Northern Gulf of California along continental coast to northern Peru and the Galapagos Islands.