The shell is moderately large (maximum length 75 mm) and broadly fusiform. The spire is high, consisting of one and one-half nuclear whorls and six strongly shouldered postnuclear whorls. The suture is impressed. The body whorl is moderately large and broadly fusoid. The aperture is of moderate size and ovate, with no perceptible anal sulcus. The outer apertural lip is erect and finely crenulatc marginally, and smooth on its inner surface. The columellar lip is entirely adherent in most specimens, heavily callused and somewhat detached in very large specimens. The siphonal canal is sealed, weakly bent to the right, and dorsallv recurved.
The body whorl bears four winglike varices, each of which extends from the suture to the upper half of the siphonal canal. Intervarical axial sculpture is lacking. Spiral sculpture consists of five more or less prominent major cords on the body and numerous more or less strong intercalary threads. Each major cord terminates at the varical margin as a pucker in the margin, the five thus giving the varical margin a ruffled appearance. The leading edge of the varix is more or less laminate.
Shell color is white, cream, or light red-brown, with darker red-brown markings, generally in the form of transverse bands. The aperture is white.
The shell of this species is exceedingly variable, with each bay in southern Honshu Island having its own endemic form. Certain striking forms have been given distinct names: one has much reduced spiral sculpture and develops enormously expanded varical "wings"; another is generally a uniform brown, with strong spiral sculpture.
The existence of a persistent fourth varix has prompted the introduction of the generic (or subgeneric) category Ocinebrellus Jousseaume, 1880; if this taxon is necessary, we feel that it is, at best, of subgeneric rank.

Southeastern coasts of Japan, north to Tokyo Bay.