(Holotype). Shell small, buccinoid, solid, consisting of 1.5 protoconch and 6.3 teleoconch whorls, with high spire comprising 27% of shell height, suture channelled. Nucleus of protoconch I missing, remaining part of protoconch I with fine square reticulation, protoconch II diameter 475 µm, with 1.1 whorls, sculptured by opisthocyrt axial riblets intersected by oblique spiral threads, forming diagonally cancellate reticulation in abapical half of whorl. First 4 teleoconch whorls distinctly angular at periphery, axial sculpture forming a series of pointed knobs, 13 on 3rd whorl, connected by a spiral cord delimiting broad, concave subsutural ramp; axial wrinkles in subsutural zone more numerous than ribs. On subsequent whorls, ramp with broad subsutural swelling, concave zone occupying about median portion of whorl height, axial sculpture becoming less angular, and spiral cords more numerous, extending over whole whorl height. Last whorl with regularly convex profile, except for concave depression in ramp, ca. 26 axial ribs, low, narrow, and poorly defined, obsolete in last 1/5 whorl behind outer lip, ca. 20 spiral cords, sharply defined, becoming stronger than ribs, much narrower than interspaces, with secondary cord in interspaces on shell base, intersections with ribs finely beaded. Aperture elongate-oval, outer lip evenly convex, sharp. Inner lip covered by wide, thin callus, parietal area smoothly connected with columella. Siphonal canal short, obliquely truncated, with rather prominent fasciole. Anal sinus only a weak insinuation. Colour of protoconch light orange-brown, teleoconch creamy off-white. Dimensions: height 11.8 mm, diameter 6.2 mm; last whorl height 8.5 mm, aperture height 6.2 mm.

Buccinaria pygmaea resembles B. urania in the development of the axial sculpture, extending onto adult whorls, intersecting with sharply defined spiral cords. It differs from it in having a small shell, with ribs evenly developed and not forming knobs on last whorl, and spiral sculpture of strong cords with very wide interspaces, usually without secondary cords.
Paratypes measure from 8.4 x 4.8 to 11.7 x 6.2 mm; diameter/height ratio 51-57%, mean 54%; spire height/shell height 27.7-28.8%, mean 28%. They are rather uniform in shell outline and sculpture, and conform well with the holotype. The spiral cords are often more crowded on subsutural ramp, and in some specimens a thin secondary cord is present in nearly every interspace on the last whorl. The shell from the Philippines is in rather poor condition. It differs from the New Caledonia material by the axial ribs being stronger and extending onto the last whorl. It is otherwise very similar to the type material and very probably conspecific with it.

Type locality. New Caledonia