Bouchet et all, 2011:
Shell of medium to large size (usually 20-30 mm, up to 110 mm high), short- to high-fusiform, usually with a high spire and a long (rarely short and truncated) siphonal canal. Axial sculpture weak or absent. Anal sinus on whorl periphery. Protoconch typically multispiral, up to six whorls, protoconch I smooth, protoconch II with arcuate axial riblets; reduced paucispiral protoconch usually smooth, may have arcuate axial riblets. Operculum fully developed, with terminal nucleus. Radular formula typically 1-(1:R:1)-1. Small and narrow rachidian and plate-like laterals are fused together, together constituting a central formation of different development (Kantor, 2006), varying from a well-defined broad central tooth to a tooth clearly formed of three elements through a gradual reduction of rachidian and/or laterals to complete absence. Marginals duplex, of variable morphology, from broadly oval and flattened with nearly equally developed limbs to awl-shaped and divided only in basal part. In most cases, the major limb is large and knife-shaped, while the accessory limb is dorsal and more weakly developed. In Iotyrris, marginal teeth have equally developed limbs that form a shallow broad trough.


Powell:
Members of this subfamily are mostly of moderate to large size, and of narrowly fusiform shape, with a tall spire and a long straight anterior canal, but in some genera the anterior end is truncated. They are distinguished from the Turriculinae by their sinus, which is either on the peripheral carina or on a minor spiral immediately above the periphery. The sinus varies between a broadly open V, and a deep narrow slit.
The operculum is leaf-shaped with a terminal nucleus, and the radula consists of a pair of wishbone-type marginals, with or without a vestigial to well developed, unicuspid, broad- based, central tooth. Often the basal limbs of the marginal are bridged by a thin plate; in others the distal basal limb is severed.
The peripheral sinus is not always indicative of the Turrinae, however, for that type of sinus is found also in some borsonids. These differ from the turrinids in having well developed pillar plications, and a radula of long slender curved marginals, often barbed at the tip.

This group is well defined by its usually narrowly fusiform shell with obsolete axial sculpture and peripheral anal sinus. However, the genus Lucerapex, although fully conforming conchologically, occupies a position as sister group to Turridae + Terebridae that excludes it from the Turridae. It is nevertheless tentatively included here in Turridae.