Diagnostic characters
Shell globose, thin, completely covered with thick periostracum thrown into prosocline ridges which bear fine bristles and overlie growth lines. Animal with long proboscis, grooved dorsally, extending from ventrolateral lips of mouth.

Other characters
There is a low spire, with 5-6 tumid whorls which bear fine spiral ridges as well as growth lines, the two crossing to create a delicate reticulation of the shell surface, though this is obscured by the periostracum. In addition, in some shells, a broadly rounded keel extends from the base of the aperture to the umbilicus. The aperture is nearly circular. Yellowish. Up to 15 mm high, 15 mm broad; last whorl occupies 80-85% of shell height, aperture about two thirds.
The animal has a broad snout, extended into a proboscis as in Trichotropis but not necessarily turned to the right. Males have a cylindrical penis with an open seminal groove. The foot is broad and oval. Yellowish, with dark pigment on the tentacles.
T. vestita occurs widely in the North Atlantic, living on stony bottoms from 10-150 m deep off Scandinavia, and to about 2000 m in the southern parts of its range. In British waters it has been found only north and east of Shetland. Its reproduction is unknown.