Diagnostic characters
Distinguished from other Skenea species by a relatively high spire (apical angle 105-110°), more swollen whorls, ornament of spiral ridges usually confined to the area round the deep umbilicus; aperture nearly circular, outer lip without marked sinuses and hardly turned out basally.
Other characters
The shell has 3-4 whorls with deep sutures placed below the periphery of the upper whorl, especially near the aperture, so that the last whorl has a rather flattened subsutural shelf. The spiral ridges may be found away from the umbilical region, but rarely at the periphery of the last whorl. There are also delicate growth lines, simply curved because of the absence of sinuses on the outer lip. The inner lip slightly covers the umbilicus and may, between that point and the origin of the outer lip, lie a little away from the surface of the last whorl. White. Up to 2mm high, a little over 2mm broad; last whorl occupies 95% of shell height, aperture 70%.
The animal has the same external features as S. serpuloides.
S. basistriata has been recorded from deep water (90-2400 m) off the coasts of western Europe between Spain and Norway, on soft bottoms.