Shell small, globosely conic, subperforate or imperforate, smooth, shining. Sculpture consists of a few distant fine spiral stride, visible only under a good lens, more distinct on the base, and very fine close growth-lines. Colour purplish-black, the upper whorls iridescent, mostly with dark-red spiral bands, 1 or 2 on the spire-whorls, 4 to 5 on the body-whorl, sometimes a number of whitish zigzag bands near the aperture. Epidermis very thin, shining. Spire conoidal, sides convex, height a little less than that of the aperture. Protoconch small, depressed convex, of 2J smooth whorls, yellowish-white, with 1 or 2 pink spiral bands. Whorls 4 to 5, the last large, convex, the last angled or rounded at the periphery ; base slightly convex, impressed in the middle. Suture linear. Aperture large, round, inside smooth and highly iridescent. Outer lip convex, sharp, edged with a narrow white opaque band. Columella subvertical, arcuate, simple, slightly expanded, and nearly covering up the umbilicus. Diameter, 8 mm.; height, 8 mm. (type).
Hab.—Auckland Islands (type) ; Antipodes and Campbell Islands (Captain Bollons) ; Snares (Professor Chilton).