Shell small (to 17.7 mm), stoutly fusiform, glossy, truncated anteriorly, whorls up to 11, but more commonly around 9; last whorl approximately 63% of total length; whorls convex with bulging ribs; shell apex acutely pointed. Protoconch conical, of approximately 2,5-2,75 glassy, smooth whorls, the exact number difficult to determine because the tip of the first is partially immersed in the second; color golden brown. Axial sculpture of prominent convex ribs, obsolete or absent in sulcus, most prominent and widest on whorl periphery a little below mid-whorl, and evanescent on the shell base below periphery. Rib crests round at whorl periphery but ridged in the sulcal region where ribs are narrower and slightly hooked to the left reflecting outline of anal sinus. Ribs number 8-9 on penultimate and 5-7 on the body whorl to the varix. Axial growth striae present on shell surface, curved in the region of the anal sulcus. Varix located just behind the anal sinus and resembles a cup handle when viewed ventrally. Anal sinus on shoulder adjacent to suture, deep, U-shaped, offset from the shell axis by parietal callus; edge of inner lip of sinus flared. Spiral sculpture of fine threads or ridges, barely visible below the periphery of last whorl, becoming stronger anteriorly on base and anterior fasciole. Outer lip thin, projecting out from the varix; with an irregular axial fold or thin axial rib; edge flexed out at anal sinus, waved below; with a shallow stromboid notch. Inner lip wide, margined, thick anteriorly, thinner on parietal wall, with a thick callus that forms one side of the anal sinus. Lip and callus edge raised by visible layers of successive deposition, especially in more mature specimens. Anterior canal short, open, unnotched, slightly curved to the right viewed ventrally, canal tip with a slightly flared marginal lip. Anterior fasciole not swollen; with about 6 faint spiral ridges. Color shell base dingy white, with a light to dark golden brown band just below body whorl periphery, visible as a narrow band at spire sutures; rib crests dingy white; band's posterior edge fades to the shell's base color; the anterior edge is more distinct.

E Florida (off Palm Beach Co.); Bahama Is. (Grand Bahama I.; Eleuthera I.); Turks & Caicos Is.; Dominican Republic; Puerto Rico; Honduras (Vivorillo Cays); Antigua; Guadeloupe; Martinique; St. Vincent & the Grenadines; Grenada; Barbados; Trinidad & Tobago (Tobago I.); Venezuela (Tortuga I.); Netherlands Antilles (Curacao I.); and French Guiana. Specimens reported as Cerodrillia perryae in Jong & Coomans (1988: 112) are believed to be this species on the basis of a photograph of a specimen from Curacao I. provided by M. Faber (pers. comm. 22 Apr 2011). Douglassia antillensis is associated with coral reefs and has been reported from 7-32 m depths on carbonate sand or carbonate sand and coral rubble in reef swales or pockets. Only dead-collected specimens occur at greater depths from off Palm Beach Co. (55 m), from off Barbados (128-183 m), off Curacao (244-274 m), and off French Guiana (57-103 m), perhaps transported there from shallower depths by currents.

Douglassia antillensis has all the key characteristics of the genus: a concave sulcus with obsolete or absent ribs, a 2,5- to 2,75 whorl protoconch, spiral microsculpture confined to the base, and a cup-handle-like varix positioned immediately behind the anal sinus. It is the commonest Douglassia in the Antilles, often misidentified as Cerodrillia perryae (Bartsch & Rehder, 1939) in museum collections. Many of the published reports of C perryae from outside of Florida are also likely this species but cannot be confirmed without accompanying photographs. A list of reports of C. perryae that are likely this species is given in the synonymy list under that species. Variability. The average total length of 210 measured specimens is 9.72 mm (2.8-17.7 mm); the average W/L ratio of 0.449. Given its relatively wide dispersal, it is fairly uniform in its morphology and color pattern, although there are some regional differences in color—those from the northern limit of its distribution, e. g. Grand Bahama I., appear to be lighter in color, and those from the southern limit (French Guiana) a mostly solid orange-brown color with white rib crests. Specimens are shown from various localities in Plate 58. Identification. Douglassia antillensis most closely resembles D. enae Bartsch, 1934 but differs principally in possessing less angular shoulders, most conspicuously on the last whorl. It also differs in coloration; the central band in D. antillensis tends to be less distinct on its adapical (posterior) margin, and its protoconch is dark, similar to the color of the band. Douglassia enae has a more distinct adapical margin on its central band, and a light colored protoconch. Although their ranges overlap, D. antillensis is reported from shallower water. Douglassia antillensis is often misidentified as C. perryae but is stouter, has 2,5-2,75 protoconch whorls, not 1,75-2, and a slightly different color pattern. Because it is stouter, its W/L ratio is greater (Average W/L = 0.449 for 210 specimens of D. antillensis versus 0.392 for the 17 specimens of C perryae). The color pattern of D. antillensis is consistent among specimens, even across its much larger range than C perryae. The latter varies in pattern; i.e., the central band is more variable in width, or even absent. Douglassia antillensis differs from D. moratensis, new species in having less convex body whorl, less prominent ribs on the shoulder, and a different color pattern. Douglassia antillensis has also been confused with C thea (Dall, 1884), but that species' spire is taller, color a uniform brown, and ribs shorter and more oblique.