« Shape distinctive, conical, tawny or chestnut-coloured, with a dull apex, the first whorls sub-coiled, the last one mostly devoid of ribs and spirally streaked towards the base; aperture round, purplish. » – T. A. di Monterosato: “Conchiglie littorali mediterranee”, Il Naturalista siciliano vol. III, Palermo 1883-1884, p.139.