This beautiful and large species is characterized by a sharp cancellate sculpture with dominant axial ribs, a high and pointed spire. P. senticosus displays a wide pallet of colours, ranging from almost white over yellowish orange to dark chocolate brown, one must admire the banded forms which occasionally offer a great contrast between base colour and spiral band. However, one must be aware that also overcleaned specimens, as treated with acid, look very white with the pattern much more accentuated.

Phos muriculatus Gould in Sowerby, 1859 is most similar but differs by the rounder whorls and the lower number of (mostly broader) axials. This species lives in Japan and Australia, but is easily overlooked because of its strong resemblance with P. senticosus. Phos angulatus Sowerby, 1880, a junior synonym, is characterized by a heavy shell with broader axial ribs which are quite convex on the body whorl. The deep water forms tend to have a more pronounced shoulder, and the shape by the way becomes more angulate.

From East Africa (Seychelle Islands) in the west over Indonesia to New Caledonia in the east. Most common in Indonesia, Philippines and Australia. From low intertidal mud flats down to 75 m deep on sandy bottom, occasionally deeper. In the Philippines large numbers have been dredged around 1950 in Manila Bay.