The length of the shell varies between 10mm and 20mm.
The shell is ovate and conical. The spire is composed of six slightly convex whorls, somewhat flattened at their upper part, ornamented with longitudinal, spinous folds. The body whorl supports two or three rows of spinous, distant tubercles. Besides, the whole shell is crossed by pretty fine, transverse striae, more apparent towards the base. The aperture is sub-rounded. The outer lip is margined externally, and striated internally. The color of this shell is grayish, with irregular transverse bands of a slate or violet color. The tubercles are sometimes white, and often brown lines cross them.
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Gould, A.A. 1850. Descriptions of the shells brought home by the U.S. Exploring Expedition (cont.). Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 3: 151–156
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Marais J.P. & Kilburn R.N. (2010) Nassariidae. pp.138–173, in: Marais A.P. & Seccombe A.D. (eds), Identification guide to the seashells of South Africa. Volume 1. Groenkloof: Centre for Molluscan Studies. 376 pp.