DESCRIPTION. Shell very small for the genus, height 3.4-3.8 mm, width 1.5-1.6 mm, biconical, turriculate elongate, solid. Protoconch multispiral, dome shaped, of 2.6-2.7 convex whorls. Protoconch-I (embryonic shell) of 0.4 whorls, separated by a demarcation from protoconch-II (larval shell). First 1.7-1.8 apical whorls apparently smooth, the nucleus with very fine striae, the remaining with reticulated sculpture of 5-6 granulose spirals (3 major, 1-2 smaller subsutural, 1 smaller suprasutural), crossed by oblique axial riblets. Maximum diameter of protoconch 760-780 µm Protoconch-teleoconch transition not well marked. Teleoconch of 2.5-3 whorls, rounded, sutural ramp convex, whorl sides gently convex. Last whorl about 3/5 of shell length. Axial sculpture of 8-9 prominent, narrowly rounded axial ribs fading out at the base, regularly spaced, with equally sized interspaces. Spiral sculpture of 17-18 granulose cords, regularly spaces, with larger interspaces. Smaller granulose cordlets in most interspaces. Entire surface covered by microgranules. Aperture narrow, ovate, about 2/5 of the shell height. Siphonal canal short, broad and open, very slightly deviating on the left. Inner lip with a weak parietal callus. Outer lip not varicose. Anal sinus marked, arcuate on shoulder slope. Colour yellowish with white axial ribs, darker brown band in the middle of teleoconch whorl, base milk white, parietal callus brown.

Moroni (1979) introduced this genus level taxon for a species of the Italian Miocene, comprising also a group of species of the Jutland Miocene, that Sorgenfrei (1958) had ascribed to the genus Neoguraleus Powell, 1939 (type species Drillia sinclairi Gillies, 882, Recent, New Zealand): Pleurotoma tenella Mayer, 1858, Daphnella calais Kautsky, 1925, and Mangelia gürichi Kautsky, 1925. Although the actual systematics of the three latter species may be debated, Sorgenfreispira moronii is undoubtedly related to B. exilis. Therefore, we propose hereby the transfer of B. brachystoma, B. africana, B. ardovinii and B. exilis to the genus Sorgenfreispira.