Shell elongate-conic, white; nuclear whorls 2,5, forming an elevated helicoid spire, the axis being at right angles to that of the first postnuclear whorl, in which it is nearly one half immersed, with the apex projecting slightly beyond the outline of the following whorls; postnuclear whorls 13, well rounded, sutures impressed; axial sculpture of slender, curved, protractive ribs, of which 16 appear on the early whorls, gradually increasing to 20 on the body whorl; intercostal spaces about twice as wide as the ribs; extending from suture to suture on the early whorls but on the later whorls terminating a little above the suture; spiral sculpture of fine, distinct, close-spaced striations over the entire surface; periphery of the last whorl well rounded; base short, well rounded; outer lip broken in the type; columella curved, slender, slightly reflected. The type measures: length, 7.3 mm; diameter, 1.8 mm.
Holotype: No. 753 (Calif. Acad. Sci. Paleo. Type Coll.), from Loc. 27,228 (C.A.S.), dredged in from 3 to 9 fms. off Taboga Island, Panama. L. G. Hertlein collector.
This species is unique from any other described from the west coast of North America.
In the key given by Dall & Bartsch to west coast species in the subgenus Strioturbonilla, this would follow nicolsi from the Gulf of California. It differs in the smaller number of axial ribs, more slender form, as well as in other ways.
This species is named for Dr. George Haley, Professor of Biology and Botany at the University of San Francisco, who has collected many shells for the California Academy of Sciences during his many collecting trips.