Diagnosis: Shell with b/1 0.36-0.42, a/I 0,36-0,39, base bent strongly to right, labrum strongly alate below anal sinus, false umbilicus distinct: subsutural cord weak, not nodular, shoulder sulcus shallow, crossed by axial ribs; ribs strong, extending to suture and to rostrum, strongly opisthocline, 17-19 on penultimate whorl, crossed by thin, low spiral lirae, 6-8 widely spaced lirae on penultimate whorl plus 4-6 closer ones below suture; cream, with median zone of dull brown on body whorl; protoconch breadth 0,80-0,85 mm. Attains 35 mm.
Description: Shell claviform (b/1 0,36-0,42, a/1 0.36-0,39), base moderately long, tapering and bent slightly to right, labrum with alate shoulder expansion, rendering anal sinus spout-like; teleoconch whorls about 9, suture moderately deep, whorls posteriorly evenly convex, periphery at basal third of each whorl; subsutural quarter of each whorl impressed, raised at suture to form a weak subsutural cord, with a shallow, evenly concave shoulder sulcus, left side of base of body whorl concave with a strong fasciole and distinct false umbilicus. Aperture narrowly pyriform with flattened labrum, slightly convex columella and a concave parietal region, siphonal canal wide, parallel-sided, not indented, labial callus thick with free outer edge and thick parietal pad which constricts anal sinus; labrum gently convex in side-view, with wide stromboid notch and deep, U-shaped, subtubular anal sinus, whose opening is slightly constricted, its margin somewhat flaring and re flexed. Sculptured by strong axial ribs, crossed by low, thin spiral lirae; growth-lines very fine; labrum preceded by a strong varix, about one-fifth whorl back from lip. Axial ribs strongly opisthocline. arcuately recurved below suture, approximately half-width of their intervals, suture-to-suture, but weaker below suture on later whorls, extending onto rostrum, crests bluntly angular, slightly reflexed. with steeply sloping sides; 9-10 ribs on 1st whorl, 17-19 on penultimate one, 18-20 (including varix) on body whorl, irregular behind lip. Spiral lirae weak and rounded, faint on 1st whorl; penultimate whorl with 6-8 wide-set lirae anteriorly, and 4-6 closer ones on subsutural cord and depression; base of body whorl with 12-15 lirae, particularly widely spaced on rostrum. Yellowish-white with obscure spiral zones of light to moderate brown, one zone below suture, one at mid-body whorl, rarely with a moderate brown median zone on body whorl; dorsum of body whorl sometimes tinged with brown; aperture, labial callus and protoconch white. Protoconch narrowly domed, of 1,5 whorls; 1st half-whorl slightly tilted; smooth except for a series of fine, close axial pliculcs at termination; breadth 0,80-0,85 mm. height 0,63-0,68 mm (b/h 1,25-1,27). Dimensions: 29,1 x 11,2 mm (holotype); 34,9 x 13.0 mm, 22,4 x 8,5 mm (largest and smallest paratype respectively). Operculum relatively thick, oblanceolate with subterminal, eccentric nucleus; moderate brown. Tentacles digitiform, with eyes on a lobe occupying basal half to two-thirds of tentacle length, eyes often lightly pigmented; penis long, compressed, tip fairly blunt, without a papilla. Radula: Rachidian plate narrow, unicuspidate, lateral relatively straight, cusps about 17 in number, strong on inner side, becoming progressively finer, then evanescing on outer side; marginals slightly arched, blade occupying less than a third of the tooth length; about 40 rows of teeth.

Very similar to Drillia tasconium Melvill & Standen, 1901, from the Gulf of Oman, but, according to three syntypes (NMW 1955.158.509), that has a shoulder sulcus which cuts through the ribs, a nodular subsutural cord and less oblique axial ribs. Curiously, Powell (1966: text fig. D103) figures a crassispirine radula for 'Crassispira tasconium'. Equally similar is D. (C.) salvadorica (Hertlein & Strong. 1957) of central West America, which has spiral grooves that incise the axial ribs.

South-Africa. Continental shelf of Zululand and Natal, 75-117 m.