[1] This species can be found from the Philippines and New Guinea to the Indian Ocean.

By 2000, they were "common" enough to be available for about $1500 in "gem" condition, and less than $1000 for lower quality specimens.

The color of the shell of the white-toothed cowry varies from a chocolate-brown to butterscotch with whitish spots of varying size and degrees of contrast.

The living animal has a mottled (blackish-brown and light tan) mantle with short and long colorless papillae, a blackish siphon and tan foot.

A number of subspecies and forms have been described including: C. leucodon leucodon (pyriform nominate); angioyna (slight tooth differences); tenuidon (smaller, heavily spotted and rounder); and escotoi (small, dark and very round).