Adult shell medium-sized (11 mm) to very large (120 mm), showing determinate growth. Protoconch paucispiral (globose) or multispiral (bullet-shaped) of 1.6 to 3.3 whorls, macroscopically smooth initially, with as few as three (paucispiral) to a whorl or more (multispiral) of flexed backwards, arcuate, axial ribs; protoconch sharply terminating with a shallow symmetrical to deep asymmetrical sinusigeral notch, the lower limb being longer than the upper as seen on the whorl side. Teleoconch fusiform, moderately thick-shelled, with a straight to slightly curved, short to long, abapically tapering rostrum and siphonal canal, aperture comprising 40-58% of shell height. Overall whorl profile usually slightly to moderately convex, sometimes almost flat-sided; usually dominated by moderate to strong spiral ornament. Principal (or 'primary') spiral ornament (see above) of three major spiral cords (A, B, D)—principal spiral C usually ontogeneticaliy delayed and weaker—more or less equally spaced on whorl side; spiral B at or slightly above whorl mid-height and usually forming periphery. Spirals A (usually) and B and D (always) present immediately at start of teleoconch and producing strongly tricarinate earliest teleoconch whorls, then maintaining or diminishing in relative strength to adulthood. Suture tracks around principal spiral D, which defines junction of whorl flank with whorl base. Sutures adpressed. Base of whorl poorly to moderately well delimited, with two additional principal spiral cords. E and F; spiral G delimits the beginning of a poorly to moderately-well delimited rostrum uniformly ornamented with very fine to medium spiral cords, often alternating in strength. Spiral B usually sharp, sometimes becoming flat-topped but never bicarinate; crest coincident with apex of anal sinus or slightly below. Growth line chord orthocline over entire whorl and between upper and lower suture in spire whorls; growth line prosocline in upper part of whorl, swinging abaperturally (backwards) to make a shallow to moderately deep V-shaped anal sinus with vertex coinciding with crest of spiral B, then swinging adaperturally (forwards) slightly to moderately to spiral D, E or F from where it then remains orthocline or then forms a smaller sinus centred on spiral G. Other orders of spiral may be intercalated throughout growth. Frequently spiral A, and less often spiral B, becomes complex with subsidiary spirals on its flanks. Axial ornament comprises numerous faint to prominent, even-strength commarginal threads or riblets, most prominent on whorl side and base, not crossing summits of major spirals; frequently diminishing in relative strength through ontogeny. Adult apertural modifications usually present and may include: suture rising relative to spiral D. narrowing or widening anal sinus, prominent, closely spaced and thickened growth pauses, and an internally thickened outer lip. Inner face of outer lip may have spiral lirations developed at adulthood or earlier in ontogeny or may remain smooth. The operculum is leaf-shaped and with a terminal nucleus; its attachment area covers nearly the whole surface, surrounded by a narrow raised border.

Shell large and solid, 50-110 mm., elongate-fusiform, with a tall spire and a long straight unnotched anterior canal; sculptured with numerous strong smooth spiral keels and cords. Protoconch stout, cylindrical, of almost two whorls, last quarter whorl axially ribbed. Sinus on the peripheral carina, shallow, broadly V-shaped. Colour uniformly white to pale brown, occasionally sparsely punctate in brown. Operculum leaf-shaped with a terminal nucleus.
Radula of wishbone-type marginals only, which may be entire, the basal limbs connected by a thin plate (picta), or one of the basal limbs may be severed (albida) and (albicarinata). Range — Miocene to Recent, Florida, Caribbean, Panama and West Mexico.