Shell small, elongate-conic, rather robust, of 6,5 postnuclear whorls; outlines of spire very lightly convex. Whorls strongly shouldered and muricated above, then flatly convex and constricted below. Suture very well marked, oblique. Protoconch of 1 volution coiled loosely in a plane spiral: nucleus almost completely immersed. Axials (17 on penultimate whorl) rounded, well elevated, sinuous, oblique; interspaces subequal in width to ribs; axials and grooves terminated abruptly at periphery of last whorl. Body-whorl flatly convex, periphery subangled; base short, convex, unsculptured except for the presence of growth-striae. Aperture quadrate; columella vertical, slightly reflexed, straight above, arcuate below; basal lip wide, broadly rounded; outer lip straight, descending vertically, folded in at shoulder to suture. The strongly shouldered whorls, muricated summits of axial ribs and quadrate aperture serve to make this species distinctive. Height, 3.5 mm.; width, 1.0 mm.
Locality: off Oamaru, in 50 fathoms. Recent.

Off Oamaru, 50 fathoms (type). Narrowly tapered, with shouldered convex whorls that are flattened medially. Axials rounded, sinuous, 17 on penultimate. Height 3.5 mm., width 1.0 mm. Chemnitzia scala Laws, 1937, p. 65.