This is an easily recognized species found through the Southwest Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. The shell is thick and smooth overall with a thin, straw coloured, felt-like periostracum. There is no axial sculpture except occasionally for growth lines. Adult shell length ranges from 14 to 17 mm with 6 to 7 whorls, and an unsculptured white protoconch having 2 to 2.5 whorls. The shell varies considerably in colour and pattern, but is typically either black, dark brown, reddish tan or olive gray on white. The pattern consists of white spots on the darker field or less commonly dark spots on white, with a white aperture edge, apex and anterior tip. The aperture is white with a row of low labial denticles; there are no parietal denticles. Specimens collected by the expedition were typically dark brown on white, with white spots, or dark brown spots and axial blotches on white.

This is like a fat-spindle in shape, and is smooth all over its exterior. The lips bear tooth-like processes. The white ground color of outer surface is covered by a network of brown, which sometimes looks like the grain of wood. Distribution: south of Honshu, in subtidal zone.