Diagnosis. Shell medium size (about 15 mm), pagodiform, with high spire, white. Whorls are distinctly angulated, with a strong keel at the periphery. The keel is ornamented with triangular, flattened, upwardly curved spiny nodules. Axial sculpture consists of obscure folds which continue the spiny nodules of the spiral keel. The spiral sculpture other than the peripheral keel, consists of a prominent rib on the shell base. This rib is nodulose at intersections with the axial folds. The siphonal canal is long and straight. The anal sinus is weakly developed, and very shallow; its apex is situated at the lower half of the shoulder slope. The operculum is absent. The radula consists of two rows of hollow "toxoglossate" marginal teeth.
The new genus is very similar to the genus Cochlespira Conrad, 1865, from which it can be distinguished by the absence of spiral riblets on the shell surface, by the weakly pronounced anal sinus, by the absence of an operculum and by the "toxoglossate" radula. The new genus also has considerable similarity to the genus Thatcheriasyrinx Powell, 1969, but that genus (at present of uncertain taxonomic position) is characterized by a deep anal sinus typical of Daphnellinae, and by the complete absence of sculpture (except the peripheral keel).

The new genus cannot be attributed with confidence to any present subfamily of Turridae. Judging from the radular tooth morphology, the absence of the operculum, and the anal sinus it can be provisionally placed into the subfamily Mangeliinae. However, the conchological similarity of Toxicochlespira gen. nov. to the "Cochlespirinid group" (Turriculinae) may indicate relationship and the phylogenetically independent appearance of toxoglossan dentition. In such a case, and bearing in mind the necessity of the recognition of strictly monophyletic taxa, it would be necessary to consider this genus as a separate taxon of subfamilial rank. It can also be suggested that the genus Thatcheriasyrinx Powell, 1969, belongs to the same group as Toxicochlespira gen. nov., since although its radular morphology is unknown, the character of the anal sinus ("dapnelline" but not "turriculine” - POWELL, 1969) may suggest the presence of toxoglossan dentition. Toxicochlespira is another turrid example of gastropods with very similar shell but with very different anatomy and radular morphology. Such a shell similarity can either be considered as a homeomorphy, (i.e. convergence) or as evidence of relationship of the taxa. If the latter view is adopted, it is necessary to decide the taxonomical status of such related groups.