General description (after 282 shells from 25 localities). — Although the shape of the shell is rather variable (cf. Discussion) it is generally strongly conical with a blunt top and a broad base. The protoconch is of type C. There are, depending on the also very variable length, three to (length of 3 mm or more) five flat teleoconch whorls; however, the last one, rather high, is convex. The suture is wide and deep, its direction almost horizontal. The ribs are broad and flat, close together, therefore the interstices are narrow. The ribs are very variable: often straight, sometimes a little flexuous, vertical, normally leaning to the left but sometimes to the right, sometimes different direc¬tions are observed in one shell. The initial whorls have one broad, flat spiral ridge on the base, just above the suture. This spiral, which is sometimes difficult to observe, borders the ribs above it. Also on the last whorl the most apical spiral borders the ribs. On this whorl there are about six spirals. In most cases, two of these (also broad and flat) spiral ridges are located above the upper edge of the aperture, the others, less developed, next to the aperture. All these spirals are closer together, their interstices are very narrow. Fresh specimens show in these interspaces fine, small riblets in a strongly prosocline position. The aperture is rather large, egg-shaped. The position of the tooth is variable too and it is sometimes only visible after turning the shell to the left. The umbilicus is equally variable: from large, spherical to a chink or even absent.
Length 1.5-3.4 mm, LW 56-72%, A 32-42%, L/B 1.7-2.3, B/b 1.6-2.4 (based on 18 shells).

Confusion is possible with three other Chrysallida showing spirals on the base of the shells, next to the aperture. C. alleryi, a species the authors are unacquainted with, only known from literature. The shape of the shell is more slender (L/B 2.5), the spirals on the base often barely visible. C. emaciata, which is on average much smaller, much more slender, has convex whorls and, next to the aperture, fine spiral striae instead of broad, flat spiral ridges. C. brusinai, which is also smaller (length to 2 mm), less conical (particularly the smallest C. spiralis specimens are often strongly conical), the suture is deeper and sharper, the apex is less blunt, the ribs higher, their interstices larger and, above all, the interstices of the spiral ridges on the base have about the same breadth as the spirals themselves.

From Norway, south along the European coasts to NW. Spain and Portugal, Canary Islands. Some shells from the Mediterranean do resemble C. spiralis more than they do C. brusinai. The bad condition of the material, however, prevents reliable identification.