The rhinophoral clavus possesses 27 to 30 lamellae. Among Orsini's friends was the Danish cartographer Claudius Clavus who lived in Rome. The thickened region is divided into a corium and clavus. The word "clavus," or "nail", refers to the stripes, for being as long as nails. It is similar in appearance to "Catillaria lenticularis", "Polyspora simplex", and "Sarcogyne clavus". The dorsal and anal fins are slate gray, while the clavus may have pale blotches. Clavus moquinianus is a species of sea snail in the family Drilliidae. The smooth-denticled clavus retains 12 fin rays, and terminates in a number of rounded ossicles.