Shell small for the genus, height 4.5-7 mm, width 1.7-2.5 mm, biconical, turricu-late elongate, solid. Protoconch multispiral, dome shaped, of 2.3-2.4 convex whorls. First 1.6-1.9 apical whorls smooth, the remaining with reticu-lated sculpture of 4-5 granulose spirals (3 major spirals in the middle of whorl, 1 smaller subsutural and 1 smaller above the teleoconch suture) crossed by oblique axial riblets. Maximum diameter of protoconch 510-650 µm. Protoconch-teleoconch transition not well marked. Teleoconch of 5-6 whorls, rounded, sutural ramp straight or very slightly convex, whorl sides gently convex. Last whorl about 2/5 of shell length. Axial sculpture of 8-9 prominent, slightly opisthocline, flexuous and narrowly rounded axial ribs, regularly spaced, with broader interspaces. Spiral sculpture of 9-15 major cordlets, with irregularly alternating smaller cordlets and interspaces of variable size. Each cordlet consists of a rows of densely packed rounded granules. Aperture narrow, ovate, about 1/3 of the shell height. Siphonal canal short, narrow and open, deviating on the left. Inner lip with a moderately developed parietal callus. Outer lip varicose. Anal sinus marked, arcuate on shoulder slope. Animal with short head and two short tentacles. Black eyes on the external, thickened basal part of the tentacles, located on the distal third of their total height. Foot broad and long, slightly lobate anteriorly, tapering posteriorly. Background colour of the head-foot pinkish, semitransparent, with light yellow spots, and light yellow speckles on the proximal part of the tentacles. Siphon pinkish, semitransparent, with light yellow spots bordered by orange.

Habitat: it is a species with a remarkable bathymetric distribution. It can be found in a few metres depth on Posidonia oceanica substrata, but even at considerable depths (200 m). Distribution: common all over the Mediterranean.
Imaged shells: all of them were found into rubble samples collected off Giglio Is. (Tuscan Archipelago - Italy), at 100 m depth. Notes: the belongings of this species to the genus Bela is still to be checked. Shell cylindrical in form, easily recognizable from its similar ones due to its special sculpture made by 8-9 axial ribs crossed by several spiral little cords, alternate between strong and weak ones, with squamous sculture running over the ribs, originating small nodules. Last whorl about the half of total height. Aperture high one third of the same. Suture not much deep, siphonal canal open, short. External lip bent, crenulated. Also the protoconch made by about 2.5 whorls, 1.6 of which smooth and the balance with a reticulated sculpture, with 4-5 granulous spirals crossed by oblique axial striae . Either light brown or uniform grey in colour pattern. Often fresh specimens are found crusting algae covered. The adult specimens average measures are around 6 mm in height.

Sorgenfreispira brachystoma is a continental shelf species, easily distinguishable from all other members of the group by its very distinct shell sculpture (Mariottini et al., 2008). It has a multispiral protoconch with characteristic densely granulated spiral ribs. Bela brachystoma apicalis Nordsieck, 1977 is a synonym of B. taprurensis (Pallary, 1904)

Sorgenfreispira brachystoma is known from the northeastern Atlantic and from the entire Mediterranean Sea. Based on literature data and on the material we have examined, it ranges from Norway (Hoisseter, 2009), Sweden (Dyntaxa, 2013), United Kingdom and British Isles (Hayward & Ryland, 1990), to southern Morocco (Lat 34° N), and the entire Mediterranean Sea. Fossil shells are known from several Plio-Pleistocene European outcrops (England, France, Spain, Italy: see Chirli & Richard, 2008).