Shell very small, about 5 mm. in length, conical and moderately high, the height being 60% that of the length. Color a dark cream. Base ovate, narrower in front. Anterior slope gently convex, posterior slope very slightly concave, almost straight. Apex placed high on the shell immediately behind the middle. The apical whorls, so well developed in the majority of the species of this group, are reduced in this species to a very small beak at the summit of the shell. Fissure long, progressively narrowing to its upper end, and provided with a small sharp denticle at the middle of its lower end. It lies high on the anterior slope, its upper end being very near the apex. Sculpture consists of numerous radiating ribs between which intermediate riblets are intercalated. Strong cords cross the shell forming square pits with the radiating ribs and riblets. Margin slightly crenulated. Interior of shell glossy, the ribs of the outside marked as fine radiat-ing grooves. The internal septum is triangular, very small and flat, covering only the extreme upper end of the fissure. The rest of the aperture is surrounded by a thin callus. Length 5 mm; Width 4 mm; Height 3 mm. Holotype, from off Guantanamo, Cuba, Albatross, station 2135 in 250 fathoms.

This species is very distinct. The denticle at the middle of the lower end of the fissure is very unusual. In addition, the much reduced fiat septum is an unique character so far as the Western Atlantic species of Puncturella are concerned. This seems to indicate one of the last stages in the evolution of Puncturella s.s. The sculpture of P. pauper is very close to that of P. abyssicola, but they differ in all other characters, P. abyssicola having the apical whorls well developed, and at the same time placed farther backwards. The orifice is much shorter, of different shape and lacks the tooth at the lower end. In addition, the septum of P. abyssicola is long and strongly arched, giving rise to a funnel-like formation which covers the entire orifice.