Shell moderately elongate, decollate adults usually missing 3-4 whorls), adults with plug-like apex; upper whorls with concave outline, convex, swollen middle whorls, and constricted body whorl Shell shape pupate due to decollation of early whorls and formation of secondary apex. Protoconch comprising about 2 unsculptured smooth whorls with slightly sinuous apertural lip. Early teleoconch whorls sculptured with 3—1 spiral striae; teleoconch whorls concave, pendant; penultimate whorl convex. Adult whorls with overall sculpture of fine spiral striae and incised lines and with 10-14 large axial plicae or ribs on lower half. Body whorl large, elongate, tightly constricted, and weakly sculptured with subsutural plicae and spiral cords. Suture moderately impressed Aperture narrowly ovoid with short, broad weakly reflexed anterior canal, and Smooth dilated outer lip. Columella concave, smooth with slight wash at aperture; 2 internal columellar plaits extending up pillar. Shell color white, with large tan to brown blotches or maculations; thin brown stripes on body whorl appearing as stripes or brown checks at aperture inner lip; axial ribs frequently white. Periostracum tan, thin. Operculum corneous, ovate, paucispiral with eccentric nucleus.

This species has four synonymous names. The type lot of Colina pinguis comprises five specimens, which vary greatly in sculpture and shape The largest specimen figures which corresponds to Sowerby's (1855) fig. 217 in the Thesaurus, also appears to be the figured specimen of Colina pinguis in Conchologia Iconica (1866: pl 17. fig 121) and is here designated as the lectotype.
Discussion: Colina pinguis is easily distinguished from its congener, Colina macrostoma, by its larger, wider, and heavier shell. Its upper whorls are concave and pendant, sculpture is not usually as cancellate as in Colina macrostoma, and it never attains the narrowly elongate form of that species. There is no geographical overlap between the two species.

Colina pinguis occurs along the eastern African coast from South Africa north to Kenya, and then jumping north to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, extending eastward to Pakistan. The single records from Suez and the Persian Gulf need reconfirmation.