Described in French (click French flag)

A total of 202 shells from 37 localities was studied. This species has been dredged exclusively around the Azores at depths of 40 to 620 m. The largest samples (10-30 specimens) are from 80-140 m depth. The maximum height is 6.3 mm. Compared to M. metaxae, the variability of M. abrupta is limited: the colour of fresh shells is white, semitransparent; old empty specimens become opaque dirty white to yellow-white. The protoconch is of the lecithotrophic larval type: only 1.5 to 2.0 broad whorls, blunt-tipped and ruggedly sculptured . Because the first teleoconch whorl is, compared to that of M. metaxae, also much broader, the profile of M. abrupta is much more cylindrical than that of M. metaxae. Thanks to the many fresh shells, we now have a more complete knowledge of the microsculpture of the protoconch: the first half whorl has numerous minute spiral lines only, which continue on the subsequent whorl, where they are crossed by well-spaced, flexuous and rather strong axial ribs. There is no distinct demarcation between protoconch and teleoconch. The teleoconch only shows some slight variation: the whorls are often rather convex, sometimes more flattened. They are shorter than those of M. metaxae; at the same length (without protoconch) of 6 mm, the last-mentioned species has two extra whorls.
As far as known, M. abrupta is the only representative of the Metaxiinae around the Azores.