Shell broadly fusiform, 5-6mm, of approx. 5,5 whorls, spire profile almost flat. Protoconch smooth. Teleoconch whorls weakly convex, sutures scarcely or not impressed, whorls sculptured with very broad and coarse axial ribs appearing as tubercules and giving the impression of the whorls being significantly convex, about 10 axials on the penultimate whorl, interstices smooth. Final whorl quite contracted anteriorly, anterior pillar with several coarse but vaguely defined cords. Aperture approx. 50 % total length of shell. Shell uniformly white with a thin brown spiral line slightly sub centrally on the spire whorls, extending onto the upper part of the final whorl, plus 2 spiral rows of opaque white squarish blotches on the lower part of the final whorl. Columella with 3 or 4 plaits, stronger posteriorly. Parietal whorl lacking a callused nodule, anterior canal distinct, slightly recurved. Outer lip simple, rather thin. Internal lirae absent.
Type Material
Holotype: h 5.7x w 2.4 x ah 3.2 mm. Western Australia, NW of Bunbury (33°00'S, 114°41'E). Dredged at 183 m. Collected by BARRY WILSON, CSIRO HMAS "Diamantina" Expedition Station DMI/72/07, March 15, 1972. (Text-Fig 7, PI. 3 Fig. 2). WAM S67736. Paratypes: Paratype 1: Australia, Western Australia, NW of Bunbury (33°15'S, 114°32'E). Dredged at 201-228 m. Collected by BARRY WILSON, CSIRO HMAS "Diamantina" Expedition Station DMI/72/24, March 17, 1972. WAM S67738. Paratype 2: Western Australia, Houtman Abrolhos Islands, N.E. of Beagle Island (29°43'S, 114°20'E). Dredged at 216-256 m. Collected by BARRY WILSON, CSIRO HMAS "Diamantina" Expedition Station DMI/72/53, March 20, 1972. WAM S67737. Paratype 3: Western Australia, off Albany (35°25'S, 118°02'E - 35°26'S, 118°22'E). Dredged at 1019-1031 m. Collected by C.WHISSON & J.FROMONT, November 26, 2005. WAM S67734. Paratypes 4 -5: Australia, Western Australia, W of Cape Hamelin area (34°16'S, 115°02'E). Dredged at 145 m. MPM 13207.
Distribution and Habitat
Australia, Western Australia, Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Beagle Island, to Albany. Dredged in sand and rubble at 1031-145 m.
Etymology
The species is in reference to the translucent nature of the species.
Discussion
This species is compared most closely to Austromitra minutenodosa CERNOHORSKY, 1980 (PI. 4, Fig. 4) and Austromitra quadrilineata n. sp. The strong turreted sculpture, the reduced protoconch and length of the aperture clearly differentiate this species.