Small, rounded cone-shaped shell with bulging whorls and moderately wide umbilicus; upper-side sculpture of 4 almost identical ribs, with flattened nodules; rounded peripheral area formed by 2 main ribs, with 2 additional ribs between them; basal sculpture of 6 flattened, partly smooth, spiral ribs; umbilical side of columellar wall without distinct spiral sculpture. Tan. Protoconch diameter (holotype) 0.82 mm, distinctly heterostrophic, without anal keel.
Teleoconch: small, rounded cone-shaped with bulging whorls and moderately wide umbilicus (UD ca. 18% SD). Sculpture: Upper side: SSR, 2 MR and UPR almost identical, with ± flattened nodules; Periphery: rounded area formed by LPR, 2 additional ribs and IPR, with the lower additional rib somewhat weaker than the others; upper point of whorl attachment between the two additional ribs; Base: 6 flat spiral ribs, increasing in width towards umbilicus; outer ones ± smooth, PUR with ± distinct axial folds; UC narrow, with ca. 13 ribs on body whorl; umbilical side of columellar wall bulging, without distinct spiral scupture. Coloration: tan, with very weak darker pattern on periphery. Protoconch: small (holotype: 0.82), multispiral, distinctly heterostrophic, without anal keel; brown in holotype. - Operculum: apparently relatively flat (visible in aperture of type specimen); described by GARRARD (1977: 535) as with "extremely thin amber chitinous base with microscopic black streaks, central portion of smaller diameter built up to rounded top with many successive layers of thin similar material, apex hollow." - Radula and Anatomy: not known. Type measurements (holotype): SD = 5.6, H = 4.6, PD = 0.82, Tw = 3 5/8-, UD = 1.0.

The shell in this species is relatively tall and rounded, reminiscent of species in the subgenera Heliacus s.s. and Gyriscus (SCHEPMAN compared his species with Heliacus trochoides). Based on sculptural characters, especially the presence of two midribs, H. madurensis is here grouped with H. (Torinista). Heliacus ponderi has a very similar shape and sculpture, but is a much larger form. THIELE'S (1925a) "Torinia sp." from 'VALDIVIA' station 244 (East Africa; MNHU unnumbered, vidi) appears to be a fragment of a madurensis shell, but has a protoconch diameter of only 0.68 mm.

Geographical distribution : Known with certainty only from the type locality Java (Indonesia) and Queensland (eastern Australia). Type locality: ['SIBOGA] "Stat.51. Madura-Bay. 61-91 M. Fine grey sand, coral sand with shells" [N.E. Java, Indonesia].
Habitat: Sublittoral; type material live-collected in 61-91 m, other records from as shallow as 4 m.