The size of the shell attains 4 mm. The small, solid shell has a short ovate-conic shape. it is imperforate or narrowly umbilicate. It is white with numerous revolving series of red or brown tessellations. The five
whorls are spirally lirate. The lira is largest at the middle of the whorl and causes sometimes a slight carina there. The
body whorl is slightly but abruptly deflected anteriorly. The circular
aperture is white. The white
columella is arcuate and wide but not dentate below. The base of the shell has a minute internal denticle. Some specimens are almost entirely red; others are white, with red spots at the periphery. There is some variation in form, also, and in the prominence of the spiral riblets. == Cultural significance ==