Average 29.1 mm in length (min, 25.1; max, 31.8). Fusiform; spire ea. 60% of total length. Protoconch minute, brown or purple, conical, of ca. 2.25 smooth whorls with sharp keel at periphery; first whorl partially sunken into subsequent whorls; protoconch not distinctly delimited from teleoconch. Teleoconch of 6.5 whorls. First four teleoconch whorls sculptured with spiral incised grooves; grooves lost on subsequent whorls except for 7—10 grooves on siphonal canal. Axial sculpture of widely spaced low ribs with occasional varices; 9-14 low ribs on last whorl excluding varix. Varices acutely shouldered, may occasionally line up with previous whorls or may be at random. Terminal varix narrow, set back a short distance from outer lip. Last 1—3 whorls nearly smooth, polished. Aperture elongate-oval, with two plications at the siphonal canal; anal canal set off by two denticles. Outer lip with 15-25 fine lirae deep within mouth. Columella continuous; parietal lip adherent to previous whorl. Siphonal canal short, open. "Stromboid notch" wide and shallow. Colored with broad bands of different shades of tan separated by narrow white bands; bands darkest on varices. Aperture white. Operculum leaf-shaped, yellow or tan, with anterior terminal nucleus. Dall (1889: 178-179) described the animal in detail: "The soft parts are white, dotted with blackish toward the middle line of the foot above, and with the end of the siphon very dark brown. The eyes are very large in proportion to the size of the animal, are mounted on large long stout peduncles, from the inner side of the distal end of which proceed very slender acute tentacles. The foot is large, thin, with an entire edge and pointed linuiform tail-end." Radula unknown.

This beautiful species is the most easily recognized Antillophos in the western Atlantic. Its large size, dark protoconch, lack of spiral sculpture on later whorls, and polished appearance immediately set it apart from all others. Antillophos smithi is of similar shape and size but is densely sculptured with minute pustules.

Distribution: Off SE Florida, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and Venezuela. Most specimens in collections are from Barbados. Dead shells are sporadically recorded from 30 m (rare) to 200 mts and live specimens have been taken in 167-200 mts. McGinty and McGinty (1957) reported this species off Palm Beach in 50-60 fathoms on rubble patches and mud. Several specimens (including the holotype) have been caught in baited fishing traps suggesting that the species may be a scavenger. Type Locality: Marie-Galante (East of Guadeloupe) Collected in fishing traps.

Named after Commander Beau, French "chef de bataillon d'infanterie," collector in Guadeloupe. Although several species are named after Beau, it does not appear that we know much about him.