Shell spindle shaped, solidly constructed, up to 70mm high. Whorls, up to 10, only slightly rounded, sculpture of numerous fine spiral ridges and growth lines. Apex of the shell (juvenile shell) a little enlarged. Mouth oval, siphonal canal short and broad. Shell white, covered by a yellowish periostracum, which may be worn in places. A variable species.

Shell solid up to 2.5cm in length. Very colourful often showing shades of white, yellow, pink, purple, red or brown with rays or streaks. Valve surface sculptured with a few solid broad ridges. Siphons are united but split at the tips.

Solid shell up to about 5cm long. Dirty white to pale fawn in colour, sometimes with red brown rays. Pallial sinus small and triangular. Sculpture of concentric ribs which are sometimes broad and flattened and others sharp and foliaceous. Periostracum, if present, is chestnut brown and strongest at the edge of the shell.

Solid shell up to 6.5cm in length. The colour is variable and can include white, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, brown and purple and various shades and patterns of these.The shell surface is sculptured with ribs which possess spines.

Solid shell up to 5cm in length. The outside of the shell is white, yellow or red brown in colour, sometimes with patterns or combinations of these. The surface is sculptured with ribs numbering 30 to 50 in younger specimens to as many as 70 in older individuals. These ribs tend to have spines especially in older animals.

Shell solid, somewhat triangular, up to about 4cm long. Dirty white, cream or pale yellow usually with three red-brown rays. Sculpture of numerous concentric ridges. Periostracum extremely slight and thin. Inside sometimes shows purple stain around the lunule. Inner margin of shell crenulate.

Large solid shell (up to 90mm in length). The shell is highly polished with numerous and irregular concentric rings. Reddish-brown often with a pink tinge with darker rays. The periostracum is think and resembles a coat of varnish.

Conical shell up to 30mm in height with about ten whorls. The colour varies from yellow or brown to pink or purple and is overlaid with irregular dark purple or red markings. Pure white specimens sometimes occur and are considered by some to be a separate species. Shell surface is sculptured with 6 to 9 spiral ridges which are beaded. The animal possesses four or five pairs of epipodal tentacles.

Shell teardrop shaped, 7-8 rounded whorls, large adults up to 120mm. Ornament spiral lines and ridges, varies between smooth and very rough.

Solid shell up to 6cm in length. White or fawn in colour; inside is white. Periostracum dark brown or green. Sculpture of concentric rings and ridges. Pallial sinus deep and is confluent with the pallial line for much of its length.