Smallest of the Panamic Parvanachis. Shell narrow, red-brown with a narrow, spiral white band slightly below the suture. Animal cream colored with white specks. Smallest species of Parvanachis; shells of 12 individuals measured 3.05 to 4.05 mm long (avg. 3.30 mm), 1.35 to 1.55 mm wide (avg. 1.43 mm). Adults with 3.25 to 4 teleoconch whorls (avg. 3.58). Protoconch smooth, cream colored at the apex but darker brown toward the teleoconch, 3.25 to 4 whorls (avg. 3.6, n = 10). Axial sculpture dominant overall, with spiral grooves visible between rounded axial ridges. First teleoconch whorl with similarly strong axial and spiral sculpture so is effectively cancellate. Weak subsutural groove cuts across the axial ridges. Shell red-brown, with a narrow, spiral white band just below the subsutural groove. First teleoconch whorl with three darker spiral bands. Aperture edge thickened, with three vague pale bands on the outer edge, and a few denticles internally. Shallow posterior sinus present in the aperture edge. Parietal callus with axial ridge and sometimes weak denticles, anterior edge of the callus detached. Aperture shows color and markings seen on outside of shell. Body coloration: Body cream colored, with white speckles. Operculum: Operculum oval with a terminal nucleus, pale yellow overall. Muscle scar bilobed, keel weak. Radula: Lateral teeth of four adult (two male, two female) specimens dissected 18-20 µm long by 7.5 µm wide, with rectangular center plates. Adult female dissected had a radular ribbon with at least 125 tooth rows. Lateral teeth delicate, with three pointed secondary cusps, the bottom one pointed and curved down, and separated from the distal two by a wide gap.

This species has been identified in collections as Parvanachis albonodosa (Carpenter, 1857). Carpenter originally described Anachis albonodosa as greenish white, marked with spots and zigzag lines of brown. The species is based on two specimens (syntypes) in the Reigen collection from Mazatlan, where they were found on sessile bivalves: an adult or subadult in the British Museum, and a broken juvenile at the US National Museum (USNM 716233, Fig. IE). Both are greenish white with brown lines and lack spiral grooves. Tryon (1883) discusses these briefly. Brann (1966) has a drawing of the British Museum syntype showing the shell pattern (pl. 56, fig. 654). Keen (1958, 1968) noted the shell characteristics, and stated that A. albonodosa has never been figured or recognized since its original description. She figures the British Museum syntype (1968, 1971; Keen's two photos (1971) are of the same specimen).
In 1971 however, (perhaps after discussions with Radwin, who she credits for help with the columbellid section of the book), Keen amends her original description of A. albonodosa to describe the shell as light brown with a greenish tint, with white tips to the ribs, which brings the description more in line with P minibrunnea. She kept her original illustration of the British Museum syntype, which is indeed greenish white with dark markings rather than brown with white markings; but detail in the small greyscale photo is difficult to see. Closer examination of the types of Anachis albonodosa Carpenter indicates that Keen was initially correct. Anachis albonodosa is a very different species, and no other name has been found for the small brown shells with a band of white spots. The two syntypes of A. albonodosa bear no resemblance to any species I have seen from the eastern Pacific. They are however very similar to species of Zafra from the Indo-west Pacific, none of which have otherwise been reported to occur in the Eastern Pacific. A. albonodosa appears to be an adventitious species of Zafra. In light of this, I herein provide a new name for the previously misidentified small brown Panamic species.