The tall, straight-sided spire of this heavy shell gives it the appearance of an elongated top shell. The flat base is separated from the columella by a deep channel. Seen in projection. The shallow suture is sometimes difficult to distinguish from the edges of the flat spiral ribs encircling the whorls, one narrow rib and three wider ones per whorl. A light brown, white, or gray band occasionally relieves the shell's uniformly dark brown color.