The shell of Polinices pulchellus
is smooth, glossy and entirely lacking in ornament. The shell is up to 15 mm high and 12 mm wide, the last whorl making up most of the shell height. An umbilicus is present, the opening of which is narrow and pointed. The aperture is very large and occupies about three quarters of the shell height. There are five rows of brown markings on the shell. The large foot is cream or yellow in colour and bears two long, flattened tentacles. Lobes of flesh of the foot covers most of the shell when the snail is active.May be mistaken for the necklace shell Euspira catena
but Polinices pulchellus
is much larger and the shell bears distinct sutures and the outer lip of the aperture joins with the last whorl at right angles. Euspira catena
also lacks the spiral markings of Polinices pulchella
Egg capsules are laid in a characteristic collar-shaped mass of jelly and sand grains. The collar is 2.5 - 3 cm in diameter with a central hole 1 cm wide and is unbroken. Eggs capsules are arranged irregularly in a single plane. Breeding occurs in spring and early summer (Graham, 1988).