This spiral shaped shell, pointed at both ends, is ivory in color and offset by brown or tan splotches. Being fairly common, these univalves grow to be about 4 1/2 inches in length with seven thin, distinct brown lines on the body whorl with smooth sutures between whorls. Carnivorous in nature, these univalves prey on other mollusks by boring a hole through the shell of their prey using their radula. Tulips are also known to be cannibalistic.