Shell variable in height to width ratio; spire concave for first two whorls, then convex; whorls rounded, aperture more than 1/3 shell length; protoconch 2 ¼ smooth whorls. Spiral sculpture of cords on base and faint microscopic threads over whole surface; axial sculpture entirely absent. Outer lip sinuous in profile, with shallow sinus. Lip thickened externally; slightly thickened internally with 5-8 denticles. Columella callus sharp-edged, axial ridge inside edge bearing small denticles, anterior-most denticle being most prominent. Siphonal canal short. Colour variable, but with four basic patterns: (a) dense network of small white spots, with spiral bands of larger white spots or splashes or axial bands below suture, at midbody and base (Fig.1) (b) axial brown bands on a white background (Fig. 2) (c) dense axial brown lines on a white background (Fig. 3) (d) uniformly fawn or orange-brown. Violet colour within aperture or around outer lip denticles in fresh specimens, rapidly fading to lilac then creamish-brown. Periostracum smooth.
Size: Up to 12 mm in length.

Endemic to Japan, southern Korea and Hong Kong; introduced to Australia. In Australia, Woody Head, Iluka, NSW, southwards to Gabo Is., Victoria.
Habitat: On algae and under stones intertidally and in the shallow subtidal, on exposed and semi-sheltered rocky shores.

This shell is extremely various in its size and surface coloration. Only three kinds of different coloration are illustrated here. The tiny shell is spindle-shaped, and covered by a soft epiderm. The exterior is almost smooth, except some spiral lines on the basal part of the shell. The anterior part of outer lip is slightly expanded outward. Both lip margins hear hne, tooth-like folds. Dis-tribution: all over Japan south of Hokkaido, near the tide line.

This is not Columbella bicincta Angas, 1871. That name was introduced by Angas for the shell now known as Mitrella peroniana (Hedley, 1913), but was preoccupied.