E. illovoense was described based on a single specimen dredged off Natal, South Africa at a depth of 27-30 fathoms. The specimen, which appears to be a juvenile, is only 2.7mm high. There are 4 protoconch and 3 broadly pyramidal teleoconch whorls. The costae, which number 11 per whorl, are thin and erect. They are not peaked. The spiral sculpture consists of about 12 strong lines. The aperture is oval.
This species resembles E. symmetricum, but differs from the latter species by having fewer costae per whorl and by having about 12 strong spiral lines per whorl rather than numerous fine spiral lines.