Shell small (up to 3.6 mm, N=3) rather stout, subcilindrical with strongly elongated spire. Protoconch of planktotrophic larval type; elongate, subcilindrical of 2 convex and smooth whorls; transition to teleoconch abrupt with deep sinusigeral notch, the latter with very weakly thickened margin. Teleoconch of 5 to 5,5 whorls; 2 to 3 adapical whorls flat-sided: Subsequent spire whorls weakly to moderately convex. Last whorl weakly to moderately convex, weakly contracted below periphery; adapical spire whorls very weakly angulate, just above the deeply impressed, moderately undulated sutures; the latter becoming gradually less impressed on subsequent whorls and barely impressed between penultimate and last whorl. Axial sculpture very weak on early adapical spire whorls ; subsequent spire whorls moderately prominent, rather wide, rounded, rather closely spaced, weakly opisthodine ribs ; axial ribs extremely weak on last whorl. Spiral sculpture of prominent, narrow, densely spaced ribs, forming moderately prominent, rather wide nodules where intersecting axial ribs; spiral ribs narrow and very numerous on last whorl. Microsculpture of typical axial threads in interspaces between spiral ribs. Aperture : ovate ; inner lip thin, moderately expanded, truncated anteriorly near transition to very deep, extremely narrow and very short anterior channel; outer lip thin internally with moderately prominent ridges on outer margin giving the outer lip a slightly crenulated appearance ; posterior channel extremely short, very wide, moderately bent to the right; outer lip externally with a prominent and narrow varix, the latter bearing prominent spiral ribs; outer lip weakly opisthocline to almost orthocline in profile, with a weak, posteriorly located notch, corresponding to posterior channel. Shell colour : glossy white.

Affinities and differences — Stosicia manikiensis superficially resembles S. mirabilis (WEINKAUFF, 1881), but differs essentially in having a protoconch of planktotrophic larval type and in having a more elongated shell.
S. manikiensis superficially resembles S. incisa (LASERON, 1956), but differs essentially in having a protoconch of planktotrophic larval type, in being more elongate and in the axial ribs — particularly on the spire whorls — being more prominent, wider and less numerous.

Tuamotu's