Shell solid, imperforate, strongly costate axially and with or without spiral striae. Axial costae may occur as broad and somewhat flattened ridges or elevated and bladelike. Aperture circular. The face of the aperture is not parallel to the axis but is offset at an angle generally of about 40°. Operculum corneous, circular, and with 5-6 whorls.
De Boury in a very able report (1912, pp. 209-266) has monographed the species both fossil and recent in this genus. Various species of Sthenorytis have existed since the Eocene, the greatest specific development occurring during Miocene times. Recent species are few and arc known from the West Indies, the west coast of Central and South America and The Galapagos Islands.