Diagnosis: Shell moderate to depressed turbiniform; whorls rounded, shouldered; spiral cords V-shaped in profile, intervals and sides of cords lirate; axial sculpture of strong subsutural pliculae extending abapically to first or second cord below shoulder. Protoconch large, 700-800 µm in diameter. Cream to pale pink, often spotted with red.
Description: Shell moderate to depressed turbiniform, spire relatively low (L/D = 0,78-0,92); whorls rounded with a tabulate shoulder; teleoconch of up to 4,5 whorls. Spiral sculpture of prominent cords with frequent intermediary lirae; cords V-shaped in profile; first whorl with ca 5 weak cords, becoming stronger and developing intermediary lirae during second and third whorls; shoulder develops during second whorl, uppermost cord forms shoulder angle; body whorl with 4-6 cords above and including periphery sometimes with a weaker intermediary cord in the intervals; lirae relatively coarse, present in intervals, on sides of cords and on shoulder; base with 8-12, finer more close set cords with intermediary lirae. Axial sculpture of strong, relatively broad subsutural pliculae causing marked crenulation of shoulder and uppermost spiral cord; crenulation may extend abapically to first and second cord below shoulder; pliculae obsolete at periphery where axial sculpture comprises only fine prosocline growth-lines in intervals, obvious in some specimens, less so in others. Umbilicus deep, not demarcated from base by a thickened cord; interior with spiral cords, more widely spaced than on base, with up to 10 lirae between each; cords obviously pliculate in some specimens, almost smooth in others. Aperture subcircular, peristome rarely complete; outer lip crenulated by cords; interior nacreous. Protoconch: As in S. philippense, but larger and more globose, diameter 700-800 µm. Colour: Protoconch and first part of juvenile shell, light pink to moderate red; adult shell with yellowish-white ground, sometimes pale yellowish-pink between shoulder and periphery; cords with strong to deep red spots, particularly uppermost one on each whorl; base with or without spots; spots relatively sparse; some specimens entirely lacking spots. Dimensions: Holotype, length 7,1 mm, diameter 8,3 mm; largest specimen, length 7,8 mm, diameter 9,1 mm.

This species is readily identified by its large protoconch, somewhat depressed shape and prominent subsutural pliculae. In shell form it resembles S. rubiolae sp. n. and S. ruthae sp. n., but neither has such a large protoconch nor such strong axial structure. S. gerula sp. n. has a protoconch of similar size but is much more elevated and has a very different sculpture. S. multistriatum (Thiele, 1925) and S. semisculptum (von Martens, 1904) also have large protoconchs, but are of quite distinct shell form. The large protoconch is indicative of direct development and this species may also brood the young in the mantle cavity. Specimens referred to Solariella sp. by Barnard (19636) clearly belong to this species, but all are merely worn apical fragments

South-Africa: Agulhas Bank to East London, 90-100 m, mostly ex piscibus.