Shell relatively small, maximum height 37.7 mm (Bahia, Brazil; SC), biconic, relatively inflated (diameter / shell height, mean 0.645 — 0.053, n - 27, range 0.54-0.74), relatively low-spired (aperture height / total shell height, mean 0.65 ± 0.054, range 0.55-0.78); base weakly constricted; spiral sculpture of last whorl consisting of five to seven prominent cords, of which three or four on the upper part of the whorl are separated from two (rarely three) on base; axial sculpture consisting of eight to 15 weak to strong ribs forming nodes on shoulder angulation and sometimes on the second and third cords as well; outer lip medially convex, inflected but without labral tooth at position of central cord; adapical sinus prominent; adaxial side of inner lip with ten to 12 strong, sparsely beaded lirae; aperture relatively broad, its height / breadth ratio 2.3—2.8; siphonal canal short (canal height / aperture height, mean 0.31 ± 0.05, range 0.20-0.41); external color dark grayish-black to black, with white nodes sometimes crossed by black striae; aperture white.

Shell solid, short, fusiform, with a row of nodules on the middle of the whorls, which becomes a strong ridge on the shoulder of the body whorl. There is a small, or secondary, row of nodules in the concave space above the shoulder. The surface of the shell is covered with small revolving ridges, and between these there are fine raised threads, and these are crossed by the distinctly marked growth lines, making the surface reticulate. Outer lip lirate within; canal short; columella with three folds. Color dark brown or bluish, the nodules white, and there are often broken white bands on the body whorl; aperture bluish white, with a dark-spotted border. Length, 27 mm; diameter, 18 mm.

Leucozonia ocellata is a small, distinctive species characterized by two to five upper and usually two (rarely three) basal cords, strong sparsely beaded lirae on the inner side of the outer lip, a broad aperture, and absence of a labral tooth. Compared to the eastern Pacific L. rudis, the western Atlantic L. ocellata has a lower spire, broader aperture, and less markedly convex outer lip. Moreover, L. ocellata lacks the subsutural cord characteristic of L. rudis. Although L. ocellata shows considerable variation in shell form and sculpture, we cannot confidently identify geographical patterns in this species. In the Bahamas, many specimens have only two or three upper and one or two strong basal cords on the last whorl (e.g., CAS from Gambier Village, New Providence; USNM 598315 from Grand Bahama Island; and SC from Bimini), but specimens at ANSP and USNM from Great Abaco and elsewhere in the Bahamas have very weak cords that are difficult to distinguish from the intervening spiral threads.

Key Largo, Florida (USNM 889860); the Bahamas, Caribbean Islands, and Cozumel (Quintana Roo) (USNM 736755) south to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.