The chestnut cowrie has a highly glossy shell due to an enamel that is secreted from its mantle.

[1][3] Chestnut cowries are rare in the portion of their range that is north of Santa Barbara, California.

[4][5] The top of the shell displays a large irregularly shaped caramel colored spot, with a dark brown border.

[1] The chestnut cowrie is a scavenger and carnivore; common food items include anemones, sponges, tunicates, eggs, and dead organisms.

[2][3]This species appears to be an opportunistic feeder that consumes a wide variety of organic matter, including plants and detritus.