Diagnosis: Shell moderately high, periphery below mid-whorl; sculptured by spiral cords of variable number and axial growth-lines. Colour pattern very variable.
Description: Shell of moderate height (L/D = 0,66-0,72) depressed turbiniform; whorls sometimes shouldered, sometimes not; periphery below mid-whorl; base flattened; teleoconch of up to 4,5 whorls. Sculpture predominantly of spiral cords; cord profile variable between and within individuals; first teleoconch whorl with ca 5 cords, but often faint or worn; number of cords on succeeding whorls variable; body whorl with 6-15 cords above and including periphery; typical specimens from eastern Cape have 8-10 cords of which apical ones are wedge-shaped in profile and peripheral ones roundly V-shaped; specimens from western Cape and Agulhas Bank have ca 6 much broader, rounded cords; Transkei specimens are similar to typical ones, but have 8-15 fine cords; intermediary lirae absent. Axial sculpture weak on typical and Transkei specimens, comprising only fine, close set collabral growth-lines; western Cape/Agulhas Bank specimens have stronger almost pliculate growth-lines, particularly on shoulder. Base flattened; with more close set, flat-topped cords, those near umbilicus slightly broader. Umbilicus deep, of moderate width, margin evenly rounded, not or only weakly pliculate; interior with spiral cords similar to those on base. Aperture subquadrate, peristome incomplete; outer lip weakly crenulated by cords; interior nacreous.
Protoconch : Typically solarielline, diameter 360-400 µm, somewhat globose.
Colour: Very variable; ground yellowish-white, patterned with spots, blotches, axial flames or a combination thereof, in light to dark reddish-brown, more commonly moderate reddish-brown; periphery frequently with bolder, axially elongate (often opisthocline) blotches. Some specimens almost totally lacking colour pattern, others with ground colour nearly obscured by pattern. Protoconch usually, but not invariably, tinged moderate yellowish-pink to moderate to deep red, particularly tip; pink colour sometimes continues on to first teleoconch whorl.
Dimensions: Largest specimen, length 5,5 mm, diameter 7,6 mm.

This species has not been recorded since its original description. Turton's type is a juvenile and closely resembles material dredged in the Transkei and eastern Cape regions. With reasonable certainty, therefore, I consider the two conspecific. Material from the western Cape and Agulhas Bank was obtained ex pisce and is generally of poor quality, hence it is only tentatively regarded as I. whitechurchi. Alternatively, it could represent I. millardi with reduced axial sculpture.
I. whitechurchi is evidently a relatively shallow water species and was originally found in beach-drift (Turton 1932). In colour pattern there can be a deceptive resemblance to I. platypeza , but that species has flatter sides and smoother base.

South-Africa: Central Transkei to False Bay, 16-80 m (living specimens, 60-80 m, sandy substrata).