Very small high-spired, turreted cone-shaped shell with narrow to moderately wide umbilicus; upper-side sculpture with 2 ribs of similar width and 1 distinctly narrower rib; with more or less flattened nodules; periphery formed by 4 ribs, of which the second from below is the weakest and less prominent; basal sculpture of 6 spiral ribs with the 2 innermost (surrounding umbilicus) widest; umbilical side of columellar wall without distinct spiral sculpture. Whitish to light tan with pattern of brown and white blotches on peripheral ribs. Protoconch diameter 0.88-0.98 mm, distinctly heterostrophic, with strong anal keel.
Teleoconch: very small, diameter of specimens in collections 2.6-4.8 at 2-4 whorls. Shape: high-spired, turreted cone-shaped with narrow to moderately wide umbilicus (UD 13-20% of SD); distinctly angular at base. Sculpture: Upper side: SSR and UMR almost identical, LMR distincdy narrower; with ± flattened nodules; Periphery: periphery formed by 4 ribs: strong UPR, LPR and IPR, and weaker, less prominent additional rib between LPR and IPR (this rib serving as upper point of whorl attachment); Base: 6 spiral ribs, the two outermost narrow, the two inner ones widest; innermost rib (UC) somewhat lowered into umbilicus; umbilical side of columellar wall convex, without distinct spiral sculpture. Coloration: off-white to light tan; peripheral ribs with pattern of brown and white blotches (about 11-12 brown blotches per whorl); blotches corresponding between ribs; porcellaneous inner lip and umbilical wall whitish. - Protoconch (SEM photograph in BIELER, 1987: 205, fig.l): medium-sized (0.88-0.98), multispiral, distincdy heterostrophic, with strong anal keel (0.26-0.32); whitish with 2 distinct brown blotches, outer comer of varix and adjacent area brown. - Periostracum: thin, yellowish when dry. - Operculum: as described for subgenus. - Radula and Anatomy: unknown.

The turriculate shell shape in connection with its light-tan coloration distinguish Heliacus (Pyrgoheliacus) turritus from all other Indo-Pacific architectonicids. Two other Indo-Pacific species possess protoconch anal keels; both are low-spired forms: Heliacus (Torinista) corallinus and H. mazatlanicus. Two Atlantic species, Heliacus (Pyrgoheliacus) worsfoldi QUINN, 1981, and H. (P.) verdensis BIELER, 1984, are similar (see discussion in BIELER, 1987: 206).

Geographical distribution: Known from two separated regions: type locality Banc du Geyser in the SW Indian Ocean (between northern Madagascar and the Comores) and from Okinawa in the western Pacific.
Habitat: Sublittoral (depth records between 0.3-58 m; on sand and coral rubble).