Shell solid with about seven whorls and relatively small, pointed spire. Early whorls with blunt spines or nodules on periphery. Latter whorls with or without blunt spines. Color extremely variable, orange, reddish-brown to dark-mahogany with markings of darker or lighter color, usually mottled or banded; albinos rare. Operculum sickle-shaped.  The scanning electron microscope image (detail on right)  shows the protoconch, which in this case represents the remains of the larval shell.