According to Bouchet and Waren (1980), the genus Corinnaeturris differs from all the others in Turridae by the unique combination of a keeled protoconch and a granulose surface on the teleoconch. Both traits are also found in Glyphostoma Gabb, 1872 and Ceritoturris Dall, 1924, but the inner and outer lips in C. leucomata are smooth, unlike Glyphostoma dentiferum Gabb, 1872 which has teeth (Gabb, 1872: 270, pi. 11, Fig. 4). Ceritoturris bittium Dall, 1924 has a varicoid swelling preceding the outer lip border (Kilburn, 1988: 297, Fig. 275-278) that is absent in C. leucomata.
Corinnaeturris leucomata was originally described as a Pleurotoma by Dall (1881: 63; illustrated in Dall, 1889: 120, pi. 11, Fig. 13). Subsequently, Dall (1889: 120) transferred it to the genus Mangelia Risso, 1826, where it remained until Bouchet and Waren (1980) established the genus Corinnaeturris to accommodate C. leucomata, at the time the only species of this genus. Our material and that illustrated by Bouchet and Waren (1980: 76, Fig. 159) fit the description and illustration by Dall well, but Bouchet and Waren's shell is a bit more inflated than ours. We consider this difference too slight to distinguish two species.

This new genus seems to differ from everything we know. The apex is multispiral, smooth with a single spiral keel; the surface of the shell is distinctly granular; the labial sinus is very deep and evenly curved at the substural zone; the shell is very solid and strongly sculptured. The animal lacks an operculum. The radular teeth are very long and slender.
The fossil genera Pleurotomoides Bronn, 1831 and Etremopsis Powell, 1942 have apparently similar protoconchs but a thickened outer lip.