[1] The White-toothed Cowry was known from only two specimens until rather recently (one in the National Museum of London, England and one in the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology).

In the late 1960s and early 1970s the third and fourth specimens were found.

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

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: leucodon (pyriform nominate); angioyna (slight tooth differences); tenuidon (smaller, heavily spotted and rounder); and escotoi (small, dark and very round).