The main characteristic of this species is the truncated apex since, growing up, the first spiral whorls fall down. Outline cylindrical in form, stretched, rather solid, bright, transparent, whorls not much convex, suture not much broad. Peristome continuous and oval in form, narrower in the upper zone, lip thickened. Sometimes there are numerous axial ribs, the number and consistence of which is very changeable. All that originated many synonyms and some varieties such as sahlaevigata B.D.D., 1884, ribs either slight or missing. T. hammerschmidtii Pfeiffer, 1857, long considered as a distinct species, is quoted as synonym of subcylindrica by CLEMAM. It is usually uniform light brown in colour. The premature forms, which have not yet lost the upper whorls, are more tapered, with whorls more convex and broad suture. The adult specimens average measures are around 4-5 mm in height.

Common all over the Mediterranean. It lives in low waters, on sandy-detrital bottoms, mainly in a brackish water habitat, where for long periods it can resist in a dry habitat, between stones and algae of the coast.