Shell very small (to 7.8 mm in total length), fusiform, truncated anteriorly, surface glossy and somewhat translucent; up to about 6,5 strongly convex whorls, the last whorl 63% of total shell length. Sculpture of axial ribs; aperture oval with a short anterior canal and wide anal notch. Protoconch of 2 round, glossy-translucent whorls, the tip of the first partially immersed in the second. Axial sculpture of narrow, even-width, round-crested arcuate ribs that extend from suture-to-suture on spire whorls and evanesce near anterior fasciole of last whorl; ribs recurved and narrower on shoulder reflecting past positions of the anal sinus, 12 on penultimate and 12 to varix on last. Coarse growth striae are present. Varix cup-handle-like just behind the anal sinus, within ¼-turn from edge of outer lip. Spiral sculpture of about 8 fine threads on the anterior fasciole. Sulcus concave; about ¼-whorl height with ribs that are lower, narrowed, and decidedly recurved. Outer lip juts out from the base of varix, narrow, thin; edge of lip forms an arc from anal sinus to end of anterior canal; without a stromboid notch. Anal sinus a wide U-shaped notch with a round apex and divergent side. Inner lip thin, thickest and erect on anterior-most portion of columella, recumbent and thin on parietal wall, and developed into a lobe posteriorly at anal sinus. Anterior canal short, barely formed, open; anterior fasciole not swollen, with faint spiral threads. Color pale creamy white, ribs white.

Cerodrillia elegans has all the distinguishing characteristics of Cerodrillia—a glossy shell with axial ribs that extend from suture-to-suture, spiral sculpture limited to near or just on the anterior fasciole, and a cup-handle-like varix behind the anal sinus. Identification. Cerodrillia elegans is similar to C. brasiliensis, new species but differs in having more pronounced and distinct ribs, a longer anterior canal, and a different color. Its arcuate ribs are reminiscent of those of Douglassia bealiana Schwengel & McGinty, 1942 but in that species the ribs are more oblique, evanesce on the shoulder and just below the shell periphery, and it is differently colored. C elegans is similar to C brunnea, new species but differs in having more convex whorls and a different color.

Off Guarapari, Espirito Santo State, Brazil.