While this species was not described until relatively recently, it is not uncommon intertidally from Natal to Transkei, South Africa. It is a variable species, which attains a maximum size of about 9mm. It is white in color, with about 8 teleoconch whorls and from 18-60 costae per whorl, which are rolled into tubes. There are about 25-28 spiral threads per whorl. A small umbilicus may be present. The aperture is oval and there are 3.5 protoconch whorls.
Relative to E. macromphalus, this species is much more slender.