[1] The mantle is variable in colour from white to black and orange to pink and red, with a finely granular surface.

The foot is short and fleshy and is usually less strongly pigmented than the mantle and is often marked with small black and white dots or flecks.

[2] The shell is generally pear-shaped, and the colour ranges from beige and mauve to grey with an overlay of densely spaced reddish brown spots, which may be interrupted on the right side by a mantle line.

[2] This marine species occurs off South Africa from Dassen Island to Cape Agulhas.

[2] The cowrie is found on reefs from 15 to over 80 metres depth, often on the sides of large granite boulders and feeds primarily on demosponges, but also algal and bryozoan material.