Shell small, thick, rounded and imperforate, even in juvenile specimens. Protoconch 1 1/3 whorl, pitted; teleoconch with 3 3/4 whorls, flatly rounded, sutures slightly impressed. First whorl with axial ribs, two spiral ribs appear at 1/2 whorl. Early in second whorl third rib appears at suture above other ribs; at end of second whorl, fourth rib appears between first and second ribs. Third whorl with four spiral ribs. Last whorl with eight spiral ribs, four above periphery, closely crowded with nodules, linked across interstices by orthocline axial ribs, interstices forming deep narrow pits, especially clear in bcachworn specimens. Columella straight, reflected, with small tooth at its base and four small nodules at reflected area. Outer lip sharp; inside with strong lirae. Colour off-white, sometimes maculated with red or pink

This species is similar to 'Euchelus' gemmatus (Gould, 1845), but differs in being imperforate (even in juveniles), in having fewer spiral ribs, which are more equal in size and have more crowded nodules. The interstices are more strongly ribbed and the axial ribs are not oblique as in E. gemmatus. 'Euchelus' pauperculus Lischke, 1872 is also similar to the new species but differs in having much more distantly nodulated spiral ribs and larger spaces between the axial ribs. Also, it is maculated with black and does not have a columella tooth. The new species also has some resemblance to H. annectans (Tate, 1893) from south-western Australia, but that species has more spiral ribs and fewer axial lamellae.

Known only from Norfolk Island; intertidal to 31 m.