As is typical of olivids, the shell of this species is smooth, glossy, and elongated, with a very long aperture.

The filament channel, a groove present on the spire of olivids, is especially distinct in this species.

Shells of this species tend to have a yellowish or pale orange ground color with a pattern of two or three wide, rough bands of a much darker color (usually dark brown or black).

Exceedingly pale specimens may be off-white with light brown patterns.

This species has caused food poisoning with a paralytic toxin in Taiwan in 2002.