Appearance
The length of the shell varies between 20 mm and 67 mm.
The elongately ovate shell contains six convex whorls with three low, reflexed varices per whorl. These varices are finely frilled on front. Between these varices, a rib shows a large, blunt knob on the shoulder. The wide outer lip is finely dentate with 5-7 teeth inside. The columella is simple and smooth. The oval aperture shows a varix extending to the short, deep and recurved siphonal canal.
The ground color of the shell varies from white to light brown, crossed by evenly spaced, thin, incised, spiral dark brown lines
It is a formidable predator on mussels, limpets, barnacles and other snails. But through this biotic characteristic, it is responsible for resistance to the Asian mussel (Musculista senhousia) invasion in Southern California.